Compare towns
Rye vs Gorham vs Ellsworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Ellsworth 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 | Rye | Gorham | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
18,300Highest |
8,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rye and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rye and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Gorham Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.7Lowest |
| 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.