Compare towns
Glover vs Gorham vs Sheffield vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Glover has the most kids (22.3% under 18).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Glover | Gorham | Sheffield | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,051 |
18,300Highest |
573Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±5.9 24% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±8 8% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Wells and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Glover and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,839±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $264,700±$34k 20% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $973±$130 31% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$967±$79Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234 4% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±64.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±41.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 50% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.8%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Glover 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 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | Gorham Public Schools | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.