Compare towns
Windham vs Nelson vs Gorham vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
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 | Nelson | Gorham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
648Lowest |
18,300 |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Topsham 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Gorham and 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. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Nelson 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Nelson School District | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Gorham High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.