Compare towns
Gorham vs Mapleton vs Dedham vs Hampden
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Hampden has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Dedham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,884 |
1,656Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Dedham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Dedham 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Dedham and Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$111,442±$18k 49% above ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Gorham and Dedham 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,942 30% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest 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 | — | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | 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 |
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.