What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).

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	Hampton
People
Population	18,300Highest	16,426Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Gorham and Hampton 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.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton 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%	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton 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	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.1Lowest
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.