Compare towns
China vs Gorham vs Ogunquit vs West Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
China has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Gorham has the most renters (18.5% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
West Gardiner has the shortest commute (24 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.
| Measure | China | Gorham | Ogunquit | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526 |
18,300Highest |
1,379Lowest |
3,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.5±2.8 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,309±$12k 29% above ME |
$112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$96,172±$30kLowest 29% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37kLowest 19% below ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$305,100±$42k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
— | $1,087±$150Lowest 5% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 17% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$2,282Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 6% ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Gorham Public Schools | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| 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 |
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.