Compare towns
Gorham vs Chapman vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Union has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
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 | Chapman | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
388Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
45.7±11.4Highest about the ME average |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Chapman and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Union 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% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$93,125±$17k 25% above ME |
$80,724±$9kLowest 8% above ME |
| Gorham and Chapman 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 |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
— | $1,179±$452Lowest 4% above ME |
| Gorham and Union 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 |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Union 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Union 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 | Gorham Public Schools | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.