What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Holbrook has the oldest population (median age 42.8).

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	Holbrook
People
Population	18,300Highest	11,380Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	42.8±3.2Highest 10% above U.S.
	Holbrook and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Holbrook and Gorham 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%	19.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Holbrook 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.	$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S.
	Holbrook and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S.
	Holbrook and Gorham 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.	$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Gorham and Holbrook 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.	$6,105Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.8%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Holbrook 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%	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Holbrook 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	#234 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Holbrook
High school in town	Gorham High School	Holbrook Middle High School
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.