Compare towns
Gorham vs Windham vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Gorham | Windham | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
19,188Highest |
5,920Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.8Highest 7% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Windham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 14 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Windham High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.1 |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.