Compare towns
Gorham vs Mapleton vs Union vs Washington
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 renters (20.1% rent).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Union | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,884 |
2,663 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| Gorham and Mapleton 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 |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
| Gorham and Union 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 |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washington 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 ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 10% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Union 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.