Compare towns
Gorham vs Lisbon vs Hampden vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Lisbon | Hampden | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
9,750 |
7,896Lowest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
43.4±4.5Highest 3% below ME |
| Gray and Hampden 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% |
22.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Lisbon 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% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
$95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$258,300±$26kLowest 13% below ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$1,371±$89 20% above ME |
| Gorham and Gray 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 |
$3,324Lowest 9% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Lisbon 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% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
29 minHighest 17% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
29 min 16% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | #60 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Lisbon Public Schools | RSU 22 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Lisbon High School | Hampden Academy | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
15.8Highest |
14.8 |
12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.