Compare towns
Phippsburg vs Gorham vs Arrowsic vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Phippsburg has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Arrowsic has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Harpswell has the oldest population (median age 62).
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 | Phippsburg | Gorham | Arrowsic | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,238 |
18,300Highest |
597Lowest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.3±6.3 21% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
50.3±8.7 12% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Harpswell and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Arrowsic and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±11.2 ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
64.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,833±$19k 44% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$99,107±$27k 33% above ME |
$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME |
| Gorham and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,800±$47kLowest 13% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$584,200±$150k 97% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Harpswell and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,600±$412 40% above ME |
$1,348±$53 18% above ME |
| Gorham and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,034Lowest 33% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,521 16% above ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.6%±9 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Arrowsic 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 01 - LKRSU | Gorham Public Schools | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| 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.