Compare towns
Whitefield vs Gorham vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Surry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Whitefield | Gorham | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,157 |
18,300Highest |
1,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.2 16% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Surry and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$24kLowest 18% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$969±$129 15% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,366 22% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±22.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Whitefield 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 | RSU 12 | Gorham Public Schools | Surry Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.