What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Hanover
People
Population	18,300Highest	11,685Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanover and Gorham 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%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
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%	73.7%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	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover 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	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.7Lowest
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.