Compare towns
Lyme vs Gorham vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Lyme | Gorham | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
18,300Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Orford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | Lyme School District | Gorham Public Schools | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.