Compare towns
Gorham vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 | Salem | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
30,964Highest |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Salem and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Salem 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% |
38.7%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% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Salem 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. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Salem 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. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Salem 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. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Salem 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% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 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 |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Salem School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Salem High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.