What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k 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	Dudley
People
Population	18,300Highest	11,929Lowest
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	40.2±2.4Highest 3% above U.S.
	Dudley 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 U.S.: 22%	20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Dudley 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%	16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gorham and Dudley 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 U.S.: 35.7%	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±2 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.	$392,600±$19kLowest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Gorham and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 55% above U.S.	$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dudley 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%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 133 in ME	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Gorham High School	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	14.3Highest
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.