Compare towns
Windham vs Melrose 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
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k 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 | Melrose | Gorham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
29,650Highest |
18,300 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Melrose 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 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±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Melrose 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. |
$7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$4,825 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% |
50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Melrose 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%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. |
1938Lowest 42 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 |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #62 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Melrose | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Melrose High | Gorham High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.8 |
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.