Compare towns
Gorham vs Hampden vs Jackson
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 renters (18.5% rent).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Hampden | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
7,896 |
897Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Gorham 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. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Hampden 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 22 | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
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.

