What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bristol has the oldest population (median age 61).

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	Bristol
People
Population	18,300Highest	2,917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME	61±3.2Highest 36% above ME
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%	13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Gorham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	52.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME	$100,750±$19kLowest 35% above ME
	Gorham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME	$406,400±$54kLowest 37% above ME
	Gorham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME	$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 59% above ME	$2,668Lowest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4%	23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Gorham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 10% above ME	18 minLowest 28% below ME
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bristol 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	#16 of 133 in ME
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Bristol Public Schools
High school in town	Gorham High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.