Compare towns
Gorham vs Durham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
15,080 |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Gray 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 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Gray 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Durham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Durham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Gray 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Oyster River High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.3Lowest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.