What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k 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	Peru
People
Population	18,300Highest	1,501Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME	48±7.6Highest 7% above ME
	Peru 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 ME: 18.1%	20.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Gorham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Peru 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME	$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME	$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME	$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 59% above ME	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Gorham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 10% above ME	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Gorham Public Schools	RSU 56
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

ME 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.