Compare towns

Cavendish vs Gorham vs Sharon

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).

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.

MeasureCavendishGorhamSharon
People
Population
1,242Lowest
18,300Highest
1,577
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±5.9
16% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.6±7.7Highest
17% above U.S.
Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
21%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sharon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.1%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,063±$29k
10% above U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$84,375±$17kLowest
5% above U.S.
Gorham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$285,100±$40kLowest
14% below U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$346,700±$37k
4% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,000±$546Lowest
29% below U.S.
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,386±$155
about the U.S. average
Gorham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,948Lowest
27% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$5,903Highest
89% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
19.8%±17.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gorham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.7%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Gorham and Cavendish 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 Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Gorham Public Schools Sharon School District
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 18 photos → 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.