What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% 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	Northbridge
People
Population	18,300Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Northbridge 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%	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gorham and Northbridge 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%	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S.
	Gorham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.	$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S.
	Gorham and Northbridge 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.	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 55% above U.S.	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge 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%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Northbridge
High school in town	Gorham High School	Northbridge 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.