Compare towns
Windham vs Lancaster vs Gorham vs Standish
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%).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
8,606Lowest |
18,300 |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%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±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.5±2.8 4% above 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% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest 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% |
36%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% |
11.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 34% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$332 13% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Standish 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% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #145 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Nashoba | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Gorham High School | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.