Compare towns
Lyman vs Windham vs Gorham vs Minot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Minot has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Lyman | Windham | Gorham | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,612 |
19,188Highest |
18,300 |
2,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
49±6.1 9% above ME |
| Lyman and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,284±$14kLowest 17% above ME |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$95,655±$17k 28% above ME |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44k 22% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$294,900±$26kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522 7% below ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$878±$801Lowest 23% below ME |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717 11% below ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,602Lowest 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±40.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #40 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 14 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.