What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).

Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Douglas	Gorham
People
Population	9,207Highest	2,682Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.	53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gorham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.	$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.	$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S.	$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S.
	Douglas and Gorham 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.	$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41%±20.3Highest 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%	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#177 of 282 in MA	#57 of 120 in NH
School district	Douglas	Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District
High school in town	Douglas High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	9.0Highest
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.