What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).

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	Townsend
People
Population	18,300Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S.
	Townsend and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend and Gorham 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%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gorham and Townsend 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%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend and Gorham 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.	$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Gorham and Townsend 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.	$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Gorham and Townsend 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.	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 133 in ME	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	North Middlesex
High school in town	Gorham High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	13.1Highest
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.