Compare towns
Buxton vs Webster vs Gorham vs New Gloucester
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 oldest population (median age 45.5).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Buxton | Webster | Gorham | New Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512 |
2,227Lowest |
18,300Highest |
5,766 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±5.5 3% above U.S. |
| Buxton and Webster 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% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Gorham and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Gorham 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Webster 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 | #65 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Merrimack Valley School District | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.