Compare towns
Smithfield vs Gorham vs Rome
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
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 | Smithfield | Gorham | Rome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856Lowest |
18,300Highest |
1,215 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
| Smithfield and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±6.3Highest 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+ | 29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±9.1 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+ | 34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
39.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,917±$27k 44% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$77,639±$25kLowest 4% 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 | $242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$329,300±$36k 11% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,150±$56 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,866 6% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,829Lowest 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
54.2%±59.8Highest 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 | 5.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
7.4%±3.8Lowest 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.