What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).

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	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
	Salem 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%	16.2%±2.1Lowest 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%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem 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%	38.7%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.	$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Gorham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.
	Salem and Gorham 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.	$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Gorham and Salem 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.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem 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%	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Salem 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	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Salem School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.2Lowest
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.