Compare towns
Embden vs Gorham vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
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 | Embden | Gorham | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 995 |
18,300Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
| Embden and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,804Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Embden 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 | — | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 10 |
| High school 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 |
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.