What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k 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	18,300Highest	5,405Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Lowest 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%	18.8%±4.7Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$100,976±$11kLowest 25% above U.S.
	Gorham and Wakefield 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.	$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average
	Gorham and Wakefield 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.	$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gorham and Wakefield 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%	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Wakefield 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	#118 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Wakefield School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9	—
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.