Compare towns
Gorham vs Gray vs Thornton
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 housing (typical home built 1983).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
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 | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
8,429 |
2,799Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Gray 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% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Thornton 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% |
46.3%Highest 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% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Gray 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. |
$5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 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. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.5Lowest |
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| 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.