Compare towns
Etna vs Gorham vs Steuben vs Carmel
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 homeowners (94.9%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Steuben has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
Carmel has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Steuben | Carmel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,252Lowest |
18,300Highest |
1,388 |
2,941 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.4 6% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
40.1±8.5 10% below ME |
46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
| Carmel 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% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Steuben 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% |
15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.9% ME: 36.2% |
17.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,379±$16kLowest 3% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$76,466±$4k about the ME average |
$82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,000±$49k 38% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
$256,800±$37k 13% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
$1,276±$187 12% above ME |
| Gorham and Carmel 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 |
$2,029 33% below ME |
$2,662 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Etna and Carmel 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% |
5.4% ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
28 minHighest 14% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Steuben 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 | — | #77 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 24 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 |
| High school 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 | 6 photos → | 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.