Compare towns
Gorham vs Ogunquit vs Topsham vs Wells
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%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Topsham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,379Lowest |
9,706 |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Topsham 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% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above 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 |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
— | $1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
| Gorham and Topsham 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 |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Topsham 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #66 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | Mt Ararat High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.2 |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.