Compare towns
Windham vs Bristol vs Gorham vs Standish
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
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 | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
3,273Lowest |
18,300 |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
42.7±5.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.5±2.8 4% above U.S. |
| Bristol 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 U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Gorham 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% |
23.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Standish 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 34% above U.S. |
$78,438±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% 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. |
$258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,310±$97 7% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Bristol 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. |
$4,162 33% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Bristol 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% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest 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 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #79 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Newfound Area School District | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Newfound Regional High School | Gorham High School | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.5Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.