Compare towns
Windham vs Mars Hill vs Gorham vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Mars Hill | Gorham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,398Lowest |
18,300 |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
43.4±3Highest 3% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Mars Hill and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Mars Hill 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% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
| 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 31% above ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Gorham and Hampden 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 |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | Gorham High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
8.0Lowest |
12.9 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.