Compare towns
Windham vs Harpswell vs Standish vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Harpswell has the oldest population (median age 62).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Harpswell | Standish | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
5,046Lowest |
10,662 |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
40.5±2.8 10% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest 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%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 44% above ME |
$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME |
$104,593±$15k 40% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% 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 |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$336,000±$18kLowest 13% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,348±$53 18% above ME |
$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
| Gorham and Harpswell 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 |
$3,141 3% above ME |
$3,005Lowest about the ME average |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Standish and Gorham 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% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell 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 | — | #18 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.5 |
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.