Compare towns
Etna vs Gorham vs Charleston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Etna has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 45.4).
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 | Etna | Gorham | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,252 |
18,300Highest |
1,117Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.4 6% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
45.4±5.9Highest about the ME average |
| Charleston and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±1.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
11.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Etna and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.9% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.5 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,379±$16kLowest 3% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$75,250±$20k about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,000±$49kLowest 38% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$226,500±$17k 24% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$988±$870Lowest 13% below ME |
| Gorham and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,745Lowest 43% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,811 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Etna and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 12% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
26 minLowest 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Charleston 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.