Compare towns
Gorham vs Wells 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 renters (18.5% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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 | Wells | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
11,713 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Lowest 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% 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±$26k 55% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| 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 |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME |
| Gorham and Wells 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 |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Wells High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.4Lowest |
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.