Compare towns
Gorham vs Sharon vs Gray vs Hampden
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%).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Sharon | Gray | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,577Lowest |
8,429 |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Gray 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Sharon 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. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Gorham 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and Gorham 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Sharon School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 12.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.