Compare towns

Ira vs Gorham vs Sandgate vs Castleton

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 expensive homes ($461k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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.

MeasureIraGorhamSandgateCastleton
People
Population
381Lowest
18,300Highest
435
4,453
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.1±5.5
39% above U.S.
39.4±2.9
about the U.S. average
55.7±5.4Highest
43% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±7.5
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.9%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±11.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,827±$5k
11% below U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$69,167±$19kLowest
14% below U.S.
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,900±$18k
18% below U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$193,800±$31kLowest
42% below U.S.
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
—
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
Gorham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,146
33% above U.S.
$4,825Highest
55% above U.S.
$2,778Lowest
11% below U.S.
$3,167
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.4%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 min
3% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
34.6%±32.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Sandgate 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 — #39 of 70 in VT
School district — Gorham Public Schools — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town — Gorham High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9
— —
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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.