Compare towns
Gorham vs Bedford vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
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 | Bedford | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
23,746Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Bedford and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Hampden 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Bedford School District | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Bedford High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
13.5 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.