Compare towns
Gorham vs Guildhall vs Lancaster 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 the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Guildhall has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Guildhall | Lancaster | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
371Lowest |
3,216 |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Guildhall 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% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall 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% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Guildhall 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±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Hampden 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. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | White Mountains Regional School District | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | — | 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.