Compare towns
Windham vs Bristol vs Gorham vs North Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 61).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
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 | Bristol | Gorham | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
2,917Lowest |
18,300 |
5,417 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
42±3 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±4.1 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% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% ME: 36.2% |
52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
37%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$100,750±$19k 35% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$88,522±$8kLowest 18% 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 |
$406,400±$54k 37% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$342,800±$29kLowest 16% above ME |
| Gorham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,248±$604 10% 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 | $3,938 30% above ME |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,546 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.7%±14.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Windham 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% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #16 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 14 | Bristol Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Gorham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.