What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the most people working from home (19%).

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Plainfield
People
Population	18,300Highest	15,141Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Gorham and Plainfield 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%	19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Plainfield 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%	16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gorham and Plainfield 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%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 55% above U.S.	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield 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%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 133 in ME	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Plainfield School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Plainfield High School
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.