What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the most expensive homes ($612k median).

Gorham has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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	Ashland	Gorham
People
Population	18,873Highest	18,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±1.4Highest 8% above U.S.	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,539±$11kHighest 58% above U.S.	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$611,700±$18kHighest 84% above U.S.	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S.	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,444Highest 139% above U.S.	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	22.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashland and Gorham 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	#42 of 282 in MA	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Ashland	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Ashland High	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	12.9Lowest
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.