Compare towns
Newfield vs Gorham vs Baldwin vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfield has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Baldwin has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Newfield | Gorham | Baldwin | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,580 |
18,300Highest |
1,170Lowest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±8.1 18% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±6 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7% ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,188±$20kLowest 23% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
$78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,100±$27k 7% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$263,200±$38kLowest 11% below ME |
$334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,402Lowest 21% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,540 16% below ME |
$2,680 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89% ME: 74.3% |
96.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 49 minHighest 98% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
40 min 64% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Acton 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 | — | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Gorham Public Schools | — | Acton 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.