Compare towns
Windham vs Pepperell vs Gorham vs Gray
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).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Pepperell | Gorham | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
11,663 |
18,300 |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Gray and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Pepperell 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% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Gorham 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. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Gray 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. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Pepperell 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #153 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | North Middlesex | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Gorham High School | Gray-New Gloucester 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.