Compare towns
Gorham vs Augusta vs Brewer vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Gorham | Augusta | Brewer | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
19,077Highest |
9,652 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
40.1±4.8 10% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Augusta and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$66,613±$9k 11% below ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
59.7% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | #119 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Cony | Brewer High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
17.9Highest |
14.0 |
14.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.