What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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	Lancaster
People
Population	18,300Highest	3,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22%	20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 55% above U.S.	$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gorham and Lancaster 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%	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Lancaster 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	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9	—
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.