Compare towns

Dover vs Gorham vs Townshend

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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).

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.

MeasureDoverGorhamTownshend
People
Population
1,466Lowest
18,300Highest
1,538
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.5±8.3
38% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
55.6±9.6Highest
43% above U.S.
Townshend 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%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
29.5%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±6.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Dover and Townshend 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%
52.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$78,750±$29k
about the U.S. average
Gorham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$332,900±$55k
about the U.S. average
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$287,200±$79kLowest
14% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$670±$49Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,074±$80
24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,510Lowest
45% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$5,364Highest
72% 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%
72.5%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townshend and Dover 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%
8.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
23.2%±11.1
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Townshend 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 West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town None in town Gorham High School Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9Highest
8.1Lowest
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.