Compare towns
Putnam vs Gorham 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
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Putnam | Gorham | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
18,300Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest 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 | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Gorham Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 |
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.