Compare towns
Gorham vs Pepperell vs Townsend vs Gray
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%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Gray 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 | Pepperell | Townsend | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
11,663 |
9,100 |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Gray and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Gorham 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. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 13.1Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.