Compare towns
Waterville vs Gorham vs Johnson
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 oldest population (median age 49.1).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
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 | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
18,300Highest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Waterville 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% |
32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnson and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 27% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson 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% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Gorham Public Schools | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.