Compare towns
Windham vs Salem 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 affordable homes ($389k median).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 | Salem | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188 |
30,964Highest |
18,300Lowest |
| 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% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest 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%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Gorham 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% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Salem 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. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Salem 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. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Gorham 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% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #38 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Salem School District | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Salem High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.