What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).

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	Douglas	Gorham
People
Population	9,207Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Douglas and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Douglas and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gorham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Douglas and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S.	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.
	Gorham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Highest 103% above U.S.	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gorham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Douglas	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Douglas High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	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.