Compare towns
Waterville vs Gorham vs Benson vs Bakersfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
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 | Waterville | Gorham | Benson | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
18,300Highest |
784 |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,200±$327 15% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 27% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,823Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Benson 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Gorham Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.