Compare towns

North Windham vs Exeter vs Gorham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

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.

MeasureNorth WindhamExeterGorham
People
Population
5,417Lowest
16,151
18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±3
8% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Exeter and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,522±$8kLowest
10% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$342,800±$29kLowest
3% above U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,248±$604Lowest
12% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,680±$355
19% above U.S.
Exeter and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,546Lowest
14% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±14.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
6.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Windham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #22 of 120 in NH #24 of 133 in ME
School district — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Gorham Public Schools
High school in town — Exeter High School Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Lowest
12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 59 photos → 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.