What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clarendon has the most affordable homes ($221k 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	Clarendon	Gorham
People
Population	2,460Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.3±4.1Highest 34% above U.S.	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	18.6%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,609±$12kLowest 26% below U.S.	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$220,900±$32kLowest 34% below U.S.	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$305Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.
	Gorham and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,740Lowest 20% above U.S.	$4,825Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±27.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Clarendon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 40% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	9.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Mill River Unified Union School District #52	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Mill River Union High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Lowest	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.