What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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	Royalton
People
Population	18,300Highest	2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S.
	Royalton 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%	14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Royalton 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%	22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Royalton 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%	42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gorham and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$103,938±$24kLowest 29% above U.S.
	Gorham and Royalton 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.	$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S.
	Gorham and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 55% above U.S.	$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gorham and Royalton 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%	13%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Royalton 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 70 in VT
School district	Gorham Public Schools	White River Unified School District #79
High school in town	Gorham High School	White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	8.7Lowest
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.