What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the most affordable homes ($461k median).

Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).

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	Bedford
People
Population	18,300Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and Gorham 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%	20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bedford 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%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
	Bedford and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford 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%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 133 in ME	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Bedford School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	13.5Highest
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.