Compare towns
Exeter vs Gorham vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Exeter | Gorham | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913 |
18,300Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Exeter 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 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 |
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.