Compare towns
Braintree vs Gorham vs Benson vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Braintree | Gorham | Benson | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
18,300Highest |
784Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 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 | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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 | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Gorham Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | 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.