Compare towns
Benson vs Gorham vs Ira vs Orwell
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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Gorham | Ira | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
18,300Highest |
381Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Ira and Benson 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% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Benson 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Benson 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Benson 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gorham Public Schools | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 | 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.