Compare towns
Ryegate vs Gorham vs Barnet vs Wells River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
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 | Ryegate | Gorham | Barnet | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,059 |
18,300Highest |
1,855 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6 6% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7 10% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15k 18% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15k 17% below U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32k 34% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$170,800±$103kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236 36% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$900±$336Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,489 44% above U.S. |
$4,154 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Barnet 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| 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 |
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.