Compare towns
Gorham vs Damariscotta
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%).
Damariscotta has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
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 | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
2,192Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
49.3±8.6Highest 10% above ME |
| Damariscotta and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Damariscotta 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% |
31.2%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$363,500±$42kLowest 23% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,027±$88Lowest 10% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,806Lowest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Gorham 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% |
11.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Damariscotta 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 | Great Salt Bay CSD |
| 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 |
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.