Compare towns
Gorham vs Mount Desert vs Randolph
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 the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Mount Desert has the most expensive homes ($522k median).
Randolph has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Mount Desert | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
1,671 |
420Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Lowest 39% above U.S. |
54.9±8.2 41% above U.S. |
57.5±10.9Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Randolph and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Randolph and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$92,813±$9k 15% above U.S. |
$101,750±$16kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Randolph and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$522,100±$66kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$407,000±$57k 22% above U.S. |
| Mount Desert and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,341±$89 5% below U.S. |
$1,667±$215Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$4,269 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±53.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph and Mount Desert 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Mount Desert Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.