Compare towns
Alfred vs Gorham vs Waterboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Waterboro has the most affordable homes ($297k 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 | Alfred | Gorham | Waterboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,125Lowest |
18,300Highest |
8,055 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3Highest about the ME average |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
42±3.1 6% below ME |
| Alfred and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waterboro and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Alfred and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18kLowest 10% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$89,392±$16k 20% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38k 15% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$297,000±$23kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,200±$461 5% above ME |
| Gorham and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543 17% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,772Lowest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.2%±12.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #74 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #80 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Massabesic High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.