What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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	Chester
People
Population	18,300Highest	2,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Chester 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%	29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.	$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.	$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 55% above U.S.	$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Chester 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	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	Gorham High School	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	8.7Lowest
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.