Compare towns
Topsham vs Rye vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Topsham | Rye | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
5,611Lowest |
18,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above 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 | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above 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 | $4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Rye School District | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.