Compare towns
Windham vs Bridgewater vs Gorham vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% 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.
| Measure | Windham | Bridgewater | Gorham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
980Lowest |
18,300 |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Hampden 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. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Gorham 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | — | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | Gorham High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.9 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.