Compare towns
Rome vs Gorham vs Cushing vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Cushing has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Rome | Gorham | Cushing | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,215 |
18,300Highest |
1,460 |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Smithfield and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Rome and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±9.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,639±$25kLowest 4% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
$107,917±$27k 44% above ME |
| Gorham and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,300±$36k 11% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$409,800±$44k 38% above ME |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
| Gorham and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$56 about the ME average |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,553±$376 36% above ME |
$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
| Gorham and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829Lowest 40% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,944 30% above ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Rome and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Gorham 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 | RSU 13 | — |
| 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 | 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.