Compare towns
Windham vs Reading vs Standish 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Reading | Standish | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
699Lowest |
10,662 |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8 4% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% 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. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Windham 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Standish 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #18 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.5 |
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.