Compare towns
Windham vs Ayer vs Gorham vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Windham | Ayer | Gorham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
8,645Lowest |
18,300 |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above 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 | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #113 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Ayer Shirley School District | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Gorham High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.5Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.