What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dayton has the most affordable homes ($398k 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	Dayton
People
Population	18,300Highest	2,313Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME	42.1±5.5Highest 6% below ME
	Dayton 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 ME: 18.1%	20.4%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Gorham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4%	14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Gorham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	5.1%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kLowest 50% above ME	$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME
	Dayton 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±$26kHighest 55% above ME	$398,200±$34kLowest 34% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME	$1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME
	Gorham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 59% above ME	$3,872Lowest 28% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	38%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Dayton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7% ME: 10.7%	3.7% ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 10% above ME	31 minHighest 26% above ME
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%	16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Gorham and Dayton 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	—
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Dayton 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.