Compare towns
Bremen vs Gorham vs Wayne vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bremen has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Bristol has the shortest commute (18 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 | Bremen | Gorham | Wayne | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917Lowest |
18,300Highest |
1,101 |
2,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±8.2 16% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
| Bristol and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.1%±9.9 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bristol and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
52.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,000±$21k 34% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$93,194±$26kLowest 25% above ME |
$100,750±$19k 35% above ME |
| Gorham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$28k 43% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$362,800±$29kLowest 22% above ME |
$406,400±$54k 37% above ME |
| Gorham and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,051±$106 8% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,829 7% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 13% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 22.7%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Bristol 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 | — | #16 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 38 | Bristol Public Schools |
| High school 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 |
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.