What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).

Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k 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	Beverly
People
Population	18,300Lowest	42,665Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average	39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Gorham and Beverly 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%	18.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Beverly 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%	19.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Beverly 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%	53.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	11.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gorham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$106,044±$7kLowest 31% above U.S.
	Gorham and Beverly 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.	$650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.	$1,771±$106Highest 25% above U.S.
	Beverly 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.	$6,836Highest 119% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Beverly 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	#144 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Beverly
High school in town	Gorham High School	Beverly High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.2Lowest
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.