Compare towns

Durham vs Gorham vs Gray vs Durham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Durham has the highest household income ($124k).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureDurhamGorhamGrayDurham
People
Population
10,681
18,300Highest
8,429Lowest
15,080
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
20.1±0.2Lowest
48% below U.S.
39.4±2.9
about the U.S. average
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
20.8±0.3
47% below U.S.
Gray and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
6.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
10.3%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
7.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Gray and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
70.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,070±$25k
39% above U.S.
$112,312±$6k
39% above U.S.
$95,236±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
$124,056±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
Durham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,000±$45k
50% above U.S.
$460,900±$26k
39% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
$504,300±$41kHighest
52% above U.S.
Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,302±$211Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,429±$143
about the U.S. average
Gorham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.4%±19.2
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Durham 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 #9 of 120 in NH #24 of 133 in ME #10 of 133 in ME #9 of 120 in NH
School district — Gorham Public Schools RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town — Gorham High School Gray-New Gloucester High School Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9Highest
12.5
12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.