Compare towns
Sharon vs Gorham vs Barnet vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 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.
| Measure | Sharon | Gorham | Barnet | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
18,300Highest |
1,855 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Strafford 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 | Sharon School District | Gorham Public Schools | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | 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.