What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most people working from home (15.1%).

Gorham has the most homeowners (71.6%).

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	Augusta	Gorham
People
Population	19,077Highest	2,682Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S.	53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Augusta and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gorham and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S.	$61,275±$7kHighest 24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kHighest 40% below U.S.	$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S.
	Augusta and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Highest 35% below U.S.	$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S.
	Augusta and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S.	$4,334Highest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Augusta and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 133 in ME	#57 of 120 in NH
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District
High school in town	Cony	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	9.0Lowest
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.