Compare towns
Cushing vs Gorham vs Hampden vs Rome
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cushing has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
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 | Cushing | Gorham | Hampden | Rome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,460 |
18,300Highest |
7,896 |
1,215Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
| Cushing and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±9.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Rome and Cushing 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 ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
39.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
$77,639±$25kLowest 4% above ME |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,800±$44k 38% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
$329,300±$36k 11% above ME |
| Gorham and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,553±$376 36% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$1,150±$56Lowest about the ME average |
| Gorham and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 30% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
$1,829Lowest 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Rome and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 13 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 22 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Hampden Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— |
| 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.