Compare towns
Windham vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
South Windham has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
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 | Lancaster | Gorham | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
8,606 |
18,300 |
1,212Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
36.5±13.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
50.3%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%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$133,223±$21k 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and South 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$314,300±$81kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,824±$2k 29% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and South Windham 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest 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% |
85.1%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. |
1971Lowest 9 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 |
32 min 20% above 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% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±15.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and South 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 14 | Nashoba | Gorham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | 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.