Compare towns

Windham vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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.

MeasureWindhamSalisburyGorham
People
Population
19,188Highest
1,609Lowest
18,300
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
51.5±4.5Highest
32% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
19.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±9.6
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Salisbury 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%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,934±$14kLowest
34% above U.S.
$111,591±$17k
38% above U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
Gorham and Salisbury 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.
$363,400±$47kLowest
9% above U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,917±$632Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,680±$355
19% above U.S.
Salisbury 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.
$5,859Highest
88% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gorham and Windham 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%
7.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury 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 — #24 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Merrimack Valley School District 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

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.