Compare towns
Gorham vs Bristol vs Gray
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%).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 61).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Bristol | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
2,917Lowest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$100,750±$19k 35% above ME |
$95,236±$8kLowest 27% above ME |
| Gorham and Bristol 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 |
$406,400±$54k 37% above ME |
$363,700±$20kLowest 23% above ME |
| Gorham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,371±$89 20% above ME |
| Gorham and Gray 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 |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol 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 | #16 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.