Compare towns
Exeter vs Gorham vs Putnam vs Jefferson
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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
18,300Highest |
540Lowest |
1,226 |
| 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% |
-5.5% 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±6.4 38% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Putnam 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest 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% |
30.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Jefferson 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% |
29% 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% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below 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±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% 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. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Gorham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%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% |
94% 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. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Gorham 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 | 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.