Compare towns
Acton vs Gorham vs Newfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Newfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Acton | Gorham | Newfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
18,300Highest |
1,580Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
52.8±8.1 18% above ME |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Newfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$57,188±$20kLowest 23% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$318,100±$27kLowest 7% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 12% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,402Lowest 21% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 64% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
49 minHighest 98% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.