Compare towns
Dedham vs Gorham vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Hampden has the shortest commute (23 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 | Dedham | Gorham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
18,300Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Dedham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18kLowest 49% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% 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 | $356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME |
| Gorham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942 30% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 22% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest 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 | Dedham Public Schools | 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 |
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.