Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Gorham vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Benson | Braintree | Gorham | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,026 |
18,300Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Gorham Public Schools | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.