Compare towns
Gorham vs Waterville 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Waterville has the most renters (51.2% rent).
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 | Waterville | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
17,077 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
41±2.9Highest 8% below ME |
| Hampden and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Gorham 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% |
18.3%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Waterville and Gorham 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% |
30.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below 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 |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$978±$72Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Gorham and Hampden 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 |
$2,755Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Gorham 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% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6Lowest 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 | #105 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Waterville Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Waterville Senior High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.