Compare towns
Calais vs Gorham vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% 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 | Calais | Gorham | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
18,300Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±6Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Gorham Public Schools | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school 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 | 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.