Compare towns
Dover vs Gorham vs Fairlee vs Marlboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Dover | Gorham | Fairlee | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
18,300Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+59.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
22.7±2.1Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
42.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$77,135±$10k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$357,300±$55k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,600±$824 13% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
$5,640Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±43.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±11.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marlboro and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Gorham Public Schools | Rivendell Interstate School District | Marlboro School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | 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 |
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.