Compare towns
Harrison vs Gorham vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harrison has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Harrison | Gorham | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,513 |
18,300Highest |
1,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.6Highest 25% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
| Harrison and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Harrison and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,300±$70k 16% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,194±$502 5% above ME |
| Gorham and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,731 10% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.5%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harrison 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.