What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the most homeowners (81.5%).

Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).

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	Dover
People
Population	18,300Lowest	33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Gorham and Dover 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%	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gorham and Dover 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%	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.	$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S.
	Gorham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Gorham and Dover 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.	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dover and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Dover 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	#64 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Dover School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.