Compare towns

Windham vs Rye 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

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureWindhamRyeGorhamTopsham
People
Population
19,188Highest
5,611Lowest
18,300
9,706
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%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.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.7±4
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.2%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Topsham 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%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye 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%
61.5%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%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
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.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$112,312±$6k
39% above U.S.
$91,028±$10kLowest
13% above U.S.
Rye 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.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$460,900±$26k
39% above U.S.
$360,800±$20kLowest
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,680±$355
19% above U.S.
$1,355±$642
4% below U.S.
Rye 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.
$7,519Highest
141% 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%
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Rye and Topsham 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%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%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.
1972Lowest
8 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
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
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 #2 of 120 in NH #24 of 133 in ME #66 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Rye 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
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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.