Compare towns
Windham vs Plainfield vs Williston vs Gorham
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 most homeowners (84.6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Plainfield | Williston | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,314Lowest |
10,144 |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Williston 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Williston 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Williston 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% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% 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. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gorham 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. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Williston 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 12.9Highest |
| 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.