Compare towns
Gorham vs Phippsburg vs West Bath
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 most affordable homes ($336k median).
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
2,238 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
54.3±6.3Highest 21% above ME |
54.2±5.6 21% above ME |
| Phippsburg and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and West Bath 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% |
34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Phippsburg and West Bath 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% |
37.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$107,833±$19k 44% above ME |
$103,333±$27kLowest 38% above 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±$47kLowest 13% above ME |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
| Gorham and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
$1,112±$327 about the ME average |
| Gorham and West Bath 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 |
$2,034Lowest 33% below ME |
$3,516 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| West Bath 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% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and West Bath 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 | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.