What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the most homeowners (81.5%).

Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).

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	Lowell
People
Population	18,300Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average	35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lowell and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	9.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.	$429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S.
	Gorham and Lowell 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.	$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Gorham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 55% above U.S.	$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 133 in ME	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Lowell
High school in town	Gorham High School	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	14.8Highest
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.