Compare towns

Bowdoin vs Gorham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).

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.

MeasureBowdoinGorham
People
Population
3,188Lowest
18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+11.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
44.3±10Highest
about the ME average
39.4±2.9Lowest
12% below ME
Bowdoin and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.1%±6.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±3.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
Gorham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
17.5%±2.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
Gorham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
13.1%±1.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,239±$13kLowest
22% above ME
$112,312±$6kHighest
50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$292,800±$71kLowest
about the ME average
$460,900±$26kHighest
55% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,680±$355
47% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,375Lowest
11% above ME
$4,825Highest
59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±42.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
37.9%±8.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
Gorham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
81.5%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
1988Lowest
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
29% above ME
27 minLowest
10% above ME
Work from home
11.7%±7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
19%±3.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
Gorham and Bowdoin 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 #28 of 133 in ME #24 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 75/MSAD 75 Gorham Public Schools
High school in town None in town Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.