Compare towns

Buxton vs Sutton vs Gorham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (95.7%).
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.

MeasureBuxtonSuttonGorham
People
Population
8,512
2,239Lowest
18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±3.9
17% above U.S.
48.1±4.1Highest
24% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Sutton and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.2%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,144±$21kLowest
24% above U.S.
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
$112,312±$6k
39% above U.S.
Sutton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,800±$21kLowest
7% above U.S.
$362,600±$16k
9% above U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,613±$266Lowest
14% above U.S.
$1,656±$614
17% above U.S.
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
Gorham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,422Lowest
10% above U.S.
$7,652Highest
145% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.9%±26.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gorham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
8.8%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Gorham and Sutton 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 #104 of 133 in ME — #24 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 06/MSAD 06 Kearsarge Regional School District Gorham Public Schools
High school in town None in town Kearsarge Regional High School Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Lowest
12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.