Compare towns
Gorham vs Gray vs Dover 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%).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Gray | Dover | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
8,429 |
33,364Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Gray 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% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest 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% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 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% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Dover 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. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Dover 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. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Dover 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 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 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Dover School District | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Dover Senior High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.5Lowest |
12.7 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.



