What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).

Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).

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	Bethlehem	Gorham
People
Population	2,537Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Bethlehem and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S.	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bethlehem and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest 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	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethlehem 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	#34 of 120 in NH	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	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.