What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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	Rochester
People
Population	18,300Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S.
	Rochester 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%	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Rochester 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%	19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rochester 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 U.S.: 35.7%	27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Gorham and Rochester 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.	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rochester 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%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66%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 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 133 in ME	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Rochester School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	13.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.