What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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	Newfields
People
Population	18,300Highest	2,023Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Newfields 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%	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gorham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.	$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S.
	Newfields 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.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newfields and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Newfields and Gorham 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	—
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Newfields 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.