What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has the oldest population (median age 53.7).

Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alton	Gorham
People
Population	5,994Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S.	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Alton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,400±$37kLowest 29% above U.S.	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Gorham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,680±$355 19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S.	$4,825Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gorham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.