Compare towns
Gorham vs Gray vs Lake Arrowhead
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%).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
Lake Arrowhead has the most kids (26.9% 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 | Lake Arrowhead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
8,429 |
3,322Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
43.4±4.5Highest 3% below ME |
33±2.4Lowest 26% below ME |
| 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%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
19%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.9%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lake Arrowhead 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 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
7.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
44.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$95,236±$8kLowest 27% above ME |
$98,654±$9k 32% above ME |
| Gorham and Lake Arrowhead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
$267,300±$19kLowest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,371±$89Lowest 20% above ME |
$2,288±$327Highest 101% above ME |
| Lake Arrowhead and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±36.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
2.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 10% above ME |
29 min 16% above ME |
39 minHighest 57% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Gray 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 | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.