Compare towns
Woolwich vs Gorham vs Bristol vs Arrowsic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Bristol has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Arrowsic has the most expensive homes ($584k 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 | Woolwich | Gorham | Bristol | Arrowsic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,158 |
18,300Highest |
2,917 |
597Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.8±5.5 25% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
50.3±8.7 12% above ME |
| Bristol and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Arrowsic and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±11.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bristol and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.7% ME: 36.2% |
64.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,175±$26k 37% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$100,750±$19k 35% above ME |
$99,107±$27kLowest 33% above ME |
| Gorham and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,500±$59kLowest 14% below ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$406,400±$54k 37% above ME |
$584,200±$150kHighest 97% above ME |
| Arrowsic and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,600±$412 40% above ME |
| Gorham and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,433Lowest 20% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,668 12% below ME |
$3,521 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Woolwich and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
16.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 20% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.6%±9 ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Arrowsic 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 | #92 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #16 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Gorham Public Schools | Bristol 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 | 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.