Compare towns
North Windham vs Smithfield vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | North Windham | Smithfield | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,417 |
856Lowest |
18,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42±3 6% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,522±$8kLowest 18% above ME |
$107,917±$27k 44% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
| Gorham and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,800±$29k 16% above ME |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,248±$604 10% above ME |
$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
| Gorham and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,546 17% above ME |
$2,866Lowest 6% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±14.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and North Windham 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 | — | — | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | — | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.