Compare towns
Windham vs Salem vs Gorham vs Standish
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 oldest population (median age 41.8).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Salem | Gorham | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
44,795Highest |
18,300 |
10,662Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
40.5±2.8 4% above U.S. |
| Windham and Standish 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1 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% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Salem 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% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7 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. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% 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. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Salem and Gorham 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. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Salem | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Salem High | Gorham High School | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
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.