Compare towns
Lubec vs Gorham vs Patten
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lubec has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Patten has the most affordable homes ($128k 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 | Lubec | Gorham | Patten |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,346 |
18,300Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 59.3±4.5Highest 32% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
57.8±3.5 29% above ME |
| Lubec and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 41.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.5%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Lubec and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.6 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,375±$11k 30% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $188,700±$26k 36% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $550±$204 52% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,039 33% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,199Lowest 61% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±25.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Patten and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1966 11 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
27 min 10% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.3%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Patten and Lubec 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 85/MSAD 19 | Gorham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | — |
| 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.