Compare towns
Plainfield vs Gorham vs Heath
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 homeowners (98%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
18,300Highest |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 30% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Heath 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath 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% |
46.8% 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% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 7% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$295,000±$45kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above 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 | $4,458 43% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,438Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Plainfield 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | — |
| 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.