Compare towns
Nelson vs Gorham vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Nelson | Gorham | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
18,300Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Gorham Public Schools | Stoddard School District |
| 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 |
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.