What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).

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	Sunapee
People
Population	18,300Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Gorham and Sunapee 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.	$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S.
	Gorham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.	$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sunapee and Gorham 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.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gorham and Sunapee 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%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 133 in ME	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.9Lowest
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.