Compare towns
Gorham vs Cornish vs Gray vs Topsham
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%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Cornish | Gray | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,816Lowest |
8,429 |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Topsham 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% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Gray 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. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Cornish 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest 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. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Topsham 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Cornish School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.5 |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.