What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the most expensive homes ($741k median).

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	Burlington	Gorham
People
Population	26,274Highest	18,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.2Highest 18% above U.S.	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Burlington and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,436±$14kHighest 81% above U.S.	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S.	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S.	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,165Highest 98% above U.S.	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Burlington and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	22.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Burlington 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	#83 of 282 in MA	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Burlington	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Burlington High	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	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.