Compare towns
Gorham vs Dedham vs Hampden
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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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 | Dedham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
25,237Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Hampden 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Gorham 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% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Gorham 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. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Dedham | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Dedham High | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.4Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.