Compare towns
Calais vs Gorham vs Middlesex vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k 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 | Calais | Gorham | Middlesex | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
18,300Highest |
1,943 |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
38.7±6.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.5%Lowest 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% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$60,313±$10kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$214,100±$37kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,317±$126Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$3,668Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Marshfield 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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 | 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.