Compare towns

Rye vs Gorham vs Rockland

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%).
Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).

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.

MeasureRyeGorhamRockland
People
Population
5,611Lowest
18,300Highest
7,035
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
49.3±6
27% above U.S.
Rye and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Rye 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%
25.4%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.6%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%
2.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$112,312±$6k
39% above U.S.
$56,533±$6kLowest
30% 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.
$245,800±$38kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,680±$355
19% above U.S.
$1,092±$105Lowest
23% 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.
$4,059Lowest
30% 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%
57.6%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rockland 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%
10.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
62%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1948Lowest
32 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
12 minLowest
53% below U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.1%±7.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and Rockland 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 #2 of 120 in NH #24 of 133 in ME #96 of 133 in ME
School district Rye School District Gorham Public Schools Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13
High school in town None in town Gorham High School Oceanside High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9Highest
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.