Compare towns
Gorham vs Hampden vs Mount Desert vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Hampden | Mount Desert | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
7,896 |
1,671 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
54.9±8.2 23% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert 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% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.1%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert 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 ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
64.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
$92,813±$9kLowest 24% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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 55% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
$522,100±$66k 76% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME |
$1,341±$89 18% above ME |
— |
| Gorham and Mount Desert 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 |
$3,694 22% above ME |
$3,512Lowest 16% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
33.9%±31.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
84.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
19.1%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | Mount Desert Public Schools | — |
| 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 | 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.