Compare towns
Windham vs Lowell vs Gorham vs Hampden
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).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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 | Lowell | Gorham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
118,368Highest |
18,300 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Highest 7% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Lowell 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Hampden 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% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Hampden 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. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Lowell 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. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Lowell 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. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Lowell | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Lowell High | Gorham High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
12.9 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.