What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).

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	Exeter
People
Population	18,300Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Exeter 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%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
	Exeter and Gorham 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.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter 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	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	59 photos →

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.