Compare towns

Gorham vs Gray vs Lowell

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 the most people working from home (19%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).

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.

MeasureGorhamGrayLowell
People
Population
18,300
8,429Lowest
118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±2.9
about the U.S. average
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
35.6±0.8Lowest
8% below 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%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lowell 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%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
$78,658±$4kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
$429,200±$11k
29% above U.S.
Gorham and Lowell 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±$89Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,625±$40
15% above U.S.
Gorham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,825Highest
55% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,499
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±3.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Lowell 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%
16.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #255 of 282 in MA
School district Gorham Public Schools RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Lowell
High school in town Gorham High School Gray-New Gloucester High School Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
12.5Lowest
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.