Compare towns
Chapman vs Franklin vs Gorham vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Franklin has the most renters (23.2% rent).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Mapleton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Chapman | Franklin | Gorham | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388Lowest |
1,628 |
18,300Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Franklin and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$17k 25% above ME |
$65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Gorham and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $888±$306 22% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 39% below ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 6% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Franklin 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 | — | — | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school 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 |
ME 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.