Compare towns

Windham vs Biddeford vs North Windham vs Gorham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
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.

MeasureWindhamBiddefordNorth WindhamGorham
People
Population
19,188
22,498Highest
5,417Lowest
18,300
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
ME: +2.6%
+6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+7.5%
ME: +2.6%
+11.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.8±1.8
7% below ME
35±2.6Lowest
22% below ME
42±3Highest
6% below ME
39.4±2.9
12% below ME
North Windham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±2.7
ME: 18.1%
15.6%±2.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.6%±4.1
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±3.5Highest
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+
15.9%±2.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
17.1%±1.7
ME: 22.4%
18.4%±3.6Highest
ME: 22.4%
17.5%±2.5
ME: 22.4%
North Windham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.2%
ME: 36.2%
32.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
37%
ME: 36.2%
44.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
11%±1.6
ME: 5.8%
4.4%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
13.1%±1.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,934±$14k
44% above ME
$72,333±$4kLowest
3% below ME
$88,522±$8k
18% above ME
$112,312±$6kHighest
50% 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
$388,900±$22k
31% above ME
$396,600±$25k
34% above ME
$342,800±$29kLowest
16% above ME
$460,900±$26kHighest
55% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
8% above ME
$1,292±$100
13% above ME
$1,248±$604
10% above ME
$1,680±$355Highest
47% above ME
Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,938
30% above ME
$4,401
45% above ME
$3,546Lowest
17% above ME
$4,825Highest
59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7
ME: 48.4%
37.2%±6
ME: 48.4%
30.7%±14.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
37.9%±8.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
15.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
6.1%
ME: 10.7%
3.7%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
48.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
80.1%
ME: 74.3%
81.5%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
1952Lowest
25 yrs older than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
7% above ME
24 minLowest
4% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
27 minHighest
10% above ME
Work from home
19%±4.1
ME: 15.9%
14.2%±2.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
20.9%±6.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
19%±3.7
ME: 15.9%
North Windham 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 #111 of 133 in ME — #24 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Biddeford Public Schools — Gorham Public Schools
High school in town Windham High School Biddeford High School — Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
14.1Highest
—
12.9
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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.