What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).

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	Wakefield
People
Population	18,300Lowest	27,793Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S.
	Wakefield 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%	20%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Wakefield 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%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wakefield 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%	59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.	$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.	$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Gorham 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.	$7,779Highest 149% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.7%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wakefield 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%	4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wakefield 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	#179 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield
High school in town	Gorham High School	Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.7Lowest
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.