Compare towns
Belgrade vs Gorham vs Orrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Orrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
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 | Belgrade | Gorham | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351 |
2,682Lowest |
3,853Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6Lowest 22% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.5±3.3 27% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$94,556±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Orrington and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$309,000±$49k 7% below U.S. |
| Belgrade and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108 39% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,167±$135Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 8% below U.S. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade and Orrington 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | #57 of 120 in NH | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Orrington Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.