Compare towns
Randolph vs Gorham vs Howland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Howland has the most affordable homes ($150k 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 | Randolph | Gorham | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,610 |
18,300Highest |
1,367Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
| Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Howland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,574±$16k 11% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,300±$21k 41% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$150,100±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,186±$207 4% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$916±$246Lowest 20% below ME |
| Gorham and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,160 29% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±8.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1970 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.3%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.