Compare towns
Windham vs Sterling vs Gorham vs North Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k 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 | Sterling | Gorham | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
8,183 |
18,300 |
5,417Lowest |
| 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% |
+7.5% 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 |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest 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% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and North Windham 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% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest 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% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% 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±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% 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. |
$1,248±$604 12% below 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 | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%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. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Windham 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 | #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 | 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.