What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).

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	Sturbridge
People
Population	18,300Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Sturbridge 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%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Gorham and Sturbridge 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.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Gorham and Sturbridge 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.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7% U.S.: 12.5%	3.7% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge 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	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Gorham High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	7.7Lowest
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.