Compare towns
Edgecomb vs Mapleton vs Gorham vs Palermo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Edgecomb has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Palermo has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Edgecomb | Mapleton | Gorham | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,251Lowest |
1,884 |
18,300Highest |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±8.8 8% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
43.4±6.1Highest 3% below ME |
| Palermo and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±7.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Edgecomb and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±6.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18k 46% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$89,095±$15kLowest 19% above ME |
| Gorham and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,400±$36k 17% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,235±$1k 8% above ME |
| Gorham and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,577 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,506 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±43.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 10% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Palermo 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 | Edgecomb Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None 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.