Compare towns
Plainfield vs Gorham vs Ashfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
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 | Plainfield | Gorham | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
18,300Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 30% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
58.6±3.4Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$400,600±$30k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558 9% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,100±$200Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$5,197Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±34Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Ashfield 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 | — | Gorham Public Schools | Mohawk Trail |
| High school 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.