Compare towns
Chatham 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
Chatham has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Gorham has the most people working from home (19%).
Sharon has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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 | Chatham | Gorham | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
18,300Highest |
442 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.4±11.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$475,900±$38kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,458±$1kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Sharon 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | — |
| 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.