What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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	Keene
People
Population	18,300Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Gorham and Keene 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%	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Keene 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%	44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Keene and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Gorham and Keene 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.	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Keene 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%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Keene 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	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Keene School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.3Lowest
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.