What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k 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	Peabody
People
Population	18,300Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Peabody 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%	24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.	$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S.
	Peabody 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.	$5,065Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older 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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 133 in ME	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Peabody
High school in town	Gorham High School	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.3Lowest
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.