Compare towns
Belfast 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
Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Belfast | Gorham | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,986Lowest |
18,300Highest |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
40.5±2.8 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±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 | $67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$104,593±$15k 40% above ME |
| Gorham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$34k 15% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$336,000±$18kLowest 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$983±$453 14% below ME |
| Gorham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,145 37% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,005Lowest about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Standish and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Standish 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 | #84 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 71 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Belfast Area High School | Gorham High School | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.