What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the shortest commute (27 min average).

Ashland has the most expensive homes ($612k 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	Gorham	Ashland
People
Population	18,300Lowest	18,873Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	42.1±1.4Highest 8% above U.S.
	Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.	$127,539±$11kHighest 58% above U.S.
	Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$611,700±$18kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.	$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.	$7,444Highest 139% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashland 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	#24 of 133 in ME	#42 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Ashland
High school in town	Gorham High School	Ashland High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	14.0Highest
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.