Compare towns
Steep Falls vs Gorham vs Standish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Steep Falls has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
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 | Steep Falls | Gorham | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,861Lowest |
18,300Highest |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±6.5Highest about the ME average |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
40.5±2.8 10% below ME |
| Steep Falls and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Steep Falls and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Gorham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,280±$33kLowest 7% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$104,593±$15k 40% above ME |
| Gorham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,400±$31kLowest 18% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$336,000±$18k 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,516±$1k 33% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME |
| Gorham and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,273 8% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,005Lowest about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 25% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Standish 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 | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.