Compare towns
Orwell vs Gorham vs Whiting vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Orwell | Gorham | Whiting | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
18,300Highest |
532Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Benson 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gorham Public Schools | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | 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 |
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.