Compare towns

Gorham vs Canton vs Gray

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 the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Canton has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
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.

MeasureGorhamCantonGray
People
Population
18,300
24,748Highest
8,429Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.6±2.3
10% above U.S.
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
Gray and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
22.9%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Canton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Gray and Canton 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%
67.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,312±$6k
39% above U.S.
$143,381±$9kHighest
78% above U.S.
$95,236±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$460,900±$26k
39% above U.S.
$710,600±$27kHighest
114% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,680±$355
19% above U.S.
$2,315±$178Highest
64% above U.S.
$1,371±$89Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$6,560Highest
110% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Canton 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%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
25.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Canton 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 #81 of 282 in MA #10 of 133 in ME
School district Gorham Public Schools Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences
High school in town Gorham High School Canton High Gray-New Gloucester High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
13.1Highest
12.5Lowest
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.