Compare towns

Windham vs Durham vs Gorham vs South Windham

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 oldest population (median age 41.8).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
South Windham has the most people working from home (24.5%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureWindhamDurhamGorhamSouth Windham
People
Population
19,188Highest
15,080
18,300
1,212Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-11.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8Highest
7% above U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
39.4±2.9
about the U.S. average
36.5±13.2
6% below U.S.
Windham and Gorham 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%
10.3%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
3.6%±4.8Lowest
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%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
7.3%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Gorham and Windham 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%
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±5.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,934±$14kLowest
34% above U.S.
$124,056±$21k
54% above U.S.
$112,312±$6k
39% above U.S.
$133,223±$21kHighest
65% above U.S.
South Windham and Durham 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.
$504,300±$41kHighest
52% above U.S.
$460,900±$26k
39% above U.S.
$314,300±$81kLowest
6% below U.S.
Durham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,429±$143
about the U.S. average
$1,680±$355
19% above U.S.
$1,824±$2kHighest
29% above U.S.
South Windham and Gorham 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$2,941Lowest
6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.5%±15.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
South Windham and Durham 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 #9 of 120 in NH #24 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 14 Oyster River Coop School District Gorham Public Schools —
High school in town Windham High School Oyster River High School Gorham High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
12.3
12.9Highest
—
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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.