Compare towns

Calais vs Gorham vs Putney

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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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.

MeasureCalaisGorhamPutney
People
Population
1,713Lowest
18,300Highest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6Highest
8% above U.S.
39.4±2.9
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Calais and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Gorham 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%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Calais and Putney 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%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
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.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% 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.
$4,825Lowest
55% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney 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%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais and Gorham 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 #32 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Gorham Public Schools Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
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.