Compare towns
Windham vs Surry vs Gorham vs Standish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Surry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
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 | Surry | Gorham | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,836Lowest |
18,300 |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
40.5±2.8 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$104,593±$15k 40% 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 |
$296,300±$36kLowest about the ME average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$336,000±$18k 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$983±$453 14% below ME |
| Gorham and Windham 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 |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,005 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Standish 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% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Surry Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Gorham High School | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.