Compare towns
Gorham vs Sterling 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%).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Sterling | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
8,183Lowest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Gorham 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. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sterling and Gorham 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. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Sterling 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% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Wachusett | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
| 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.