Compare towns
Windham vs Strong vs Gorham vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Strong | Gorham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,249Lowest |
18,300 |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| Strong and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| 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 31% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
| Gorham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 30% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Topsham 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 ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Gorham High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.