Compare towns
Gorham vs Topsham vs Wells
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 highest household income ($112k).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Topsham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
9,706Lowest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Topsham 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% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
| Wells 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 47% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
| Gorham and Topsham 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 |
$4,259 40% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Topsham 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% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Wells 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Mt Ararat High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.2 |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.