Compare towns
Gorham vs Phippsburg vs Brewer
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%).
Phippsburg has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Phippsburg | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
2,238Lowest |
9,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
54.3±6.3Highest 21% above ME |
40.1±4.8 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37.7% ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$107,833±$19k 44% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Gorham and Phippsburg 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 |
$335,800±$47k 13% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,034Lowest 33% below ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer 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% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
81.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Phippsburg 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 | — | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.