What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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	Deerfield	Gorham
People
Population	5,158Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S.	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Deerfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gorham and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kLowest 31% above U.S.	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Gorham and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kLowest 25% above U.S.	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Gorham and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Lowest 6% below U.S.	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.
	Gorham and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Highest 87% above U.S.	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gorham and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%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	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Deerfield 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	#156 of 282 in MA	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Frontier Regional	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	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.