What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middleborough has the oldest population (median age 43.4).

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	Middleborough
People
Population	18,300Lowest	24,505Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	43.4±2.1Highest 12% above U.S.
	Middleborough and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Middleborough 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%	21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middleborough 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%	32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$468,700±$18kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Middleborough and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.	$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S.
	Middleborough and Gorham 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.	$6,023Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middleborough 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%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Middleborough 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	#170 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Middleborough
High school in town	Gorham High School	Middleborough High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.3Lowest
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.