Compare towns
Epsom vs Gorham vs Gray vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Gray has the oldest housing (typical home built 1983).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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.
| Measure | Epsom | Gorham | Gray | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939 |
18,300Highest |
8,429 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Epsom and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 20.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epsom and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,941±$13k 21% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Strafford 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.