What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the most homeowners (81.5%).

Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).

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	Salem
People
Population	18,300Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average	39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Gorham and Salem 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%	15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Salem 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%	17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gorham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	8.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.
	Salem and Gorham 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.	$6,114Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 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%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Gorham 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	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Salem
High school in town	Gorham High School	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	9.8Lowest
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.