Compare towns
Windham vs Sterling 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).
Sterling 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.
| Measure | Windham | Sterling | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
8,183Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sterling 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% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #135 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Wachusett | 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.