Compare towns
Mapleton vs Gorham vs Bristol vs Castle Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Bristol has the most people working from home (25%).
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k 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 | Mapleton | Gorham | Bristol | Castle Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
18,300Highest |
2,917 |
281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
57.8±15.8 29% above ME |
| Bristol and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1 ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Castle Hill and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$100,750±$19k 35% above ME |
$54,250±$14kLowest 27% below ME |
| Gorham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$406,400±$54k 37% above ME |
$145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
| Gorham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,051±$106 8% below ME |
$950±$574 17% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 41% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,668 12% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Castle Hill and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
4.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol 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 | #16 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Gorham Public Schools | Bristol Public Schools | — |
| 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 | 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.