What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k 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	Newton
People
Population	18,300Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	42.1±0.9Highest 8% above U.S.
	Newton 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%	20.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Newton 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%	19.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newton 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%	81.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	11.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gorham and Newton 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.	$190,304±$9kHighest 136% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.	$2,370±$81Highest 68% above U.S.
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%±4.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newton 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%	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70%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	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.2%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 133 in ME	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Newton
High school in town	Gorham High School	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.8Lowest
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.