What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).

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	Spencer
People
Population	18,300Highest	12,008Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S.
	Spencer 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%	16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Spencer 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%	26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.	$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 55% above U.S.	$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Spencer 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%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Spencer 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	#261 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	Gorham High School	David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	9.9Lowest
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.