Compare towns
Gorham vs Sidney vs Union vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Sidney has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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 | Sidney | Union | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
4,790 |
2,663Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Sidney and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Sidney 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% |
33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$80,724±$9kLowest 8% above ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
| 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 55% above ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
$267,600±$42kLowest 10% below ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,340±$304 18% above ME |
$1,179±$452Lowest 4% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Gorham and Sidney 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 |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Union 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 18 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | — | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.