Compare towns
Peru vs Gorham vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Peru | Gorham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501Lowest |
18,300Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Peru and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
| Gorham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Washington 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 | RSU 56 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 |
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.