Compare towns
Bow vs Gorham vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Bow | Gorham | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
18,300Highest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Gray and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Bow and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bow School District | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Gorham High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.9Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.