What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).

Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Middlebury
People
Population	18,300Highest	9,175Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average	31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middlebury 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$86,169±$16kLowest 7% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.	$409,700±$30kLowest 23% above U.S.
	Gorham and Middlebury 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.	$1,156±$113Lowest 18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.	$6,868Highest 120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.9%±14.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middlebury 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%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	16 minLowest 41% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Middlebury 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	#17 of 70 in VT
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	Gorham High School	Middlebury Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.6Lowest
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.