What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the most affordable homes ($461k median).

Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).

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	Pelham
People
Population	18,300Highest	14,449Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S.
	Pelham 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%	22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Pelham 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%	16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gorham and Pelham 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%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.	$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.
	Pelham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average
	Gorham and Pelham 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.	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7% U.S.: 12.5%	3.7% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pelham 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	#48 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Pelham School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.4Lowest
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.