What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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	Plaistow
People
Population	18,300Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	40.1±3.7Highest 3% above U.S.
	Plaistow 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 U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Plaistow 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%	17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gorham and Plaistow 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%	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S.
	Gorham and Plaistow 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.	$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.
	Gorham and Plaistow 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.	$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Gorham and Plaistow 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.	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow 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%	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Plaistow 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	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.4Lowest
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.