Compare towns
Brookfield vs Gorham vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
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 | Brookfield | Gorham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
18,300Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$31kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61k 29% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926Highest 90% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.