Compare towns
Gorham vs Oakham vs Spencer
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
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 | Oakham | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,639Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Oakham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Spencer 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Quabbin | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.