Compare towns

Windham vs Worcester vs Gorham vs Hampden

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 oldest population (median age 41.8).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureWindhamWorcesterGorhamHampden
People
Population
19,188
207,055Highest
18,300
7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8Highest
7% above U.S.
33.9±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
39.4±2.9
about the U.S. average
41±2.9
5% above U.S.
Windham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±0.8
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
25.8%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hampden and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.9%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
13.3%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Gorham and Hampden 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%
35.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.1%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Gorham 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
34% above U.S.
$70,102±$2kLowest
13% below U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$111,959±$13k
39% above U.S.
Gorham and Hampden 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.
$374,400±$7k
13% above U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$301,300±$38kLowest
9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,487±$38
5% above U.S.
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,286±$317
9% below U.S.
Gorham and Worcester 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.
$4,733
52% above U.S.
$4,825Highest
55% above U.S.
$3,694Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 min
9% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampden 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 #266 of 282 in MA #24 of 133 in ME #6 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester Gorham Public Schools RSU 22
High school in town Windham High School South High Community Gorham High School Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
14.6
12.9
14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.