Compare towns
Braintree vs Gorham vs Rochester 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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.9%).
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.
| Measure | Braintree | Gorham | Rochester | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
18,300Highest |
1,389 |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest 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% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$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. |
$253,600±$81k 24% 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. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,977 28% 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% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% 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. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 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 |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Brookfield 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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.