Compare towns
Windham vs Exeter 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
South Windham has the most people working from home (24.5%).
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 | Exeter | Gorham | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
913Lowest |
18,300 |
1,212 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
36.5±13.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±5.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and South Windham 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. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$133,223±$21kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| South Windham and Gorham 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. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$314,300±$81k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$2,941 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±15.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Windham 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 14 | — | Gorham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | 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 |
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.