Compare towns
Windham vs Chester vs Gorham
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).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Chester | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
2,992Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% 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. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Windham 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. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #49 of 70 in VT | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Green Mountain Union High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
8.7Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.