Compare towns
Gorham vs Ogunquit vs Damariscotta
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Damariscotta has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,192 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
49.3±8.6 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Damariscotta 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Damariscotta 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$363,500±$42kLowest 23% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
— | $1,027±$88Lowest 10% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$3,806Lowest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Gorham 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | Great Salt Bay CSD |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.