What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wales has the most affordable homes ($250k 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	Wales
People
Population	18,300Highest	1,924Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.4±2.9Highest 12% below ME	35.1±4.2Lowest 22% below ME
	Gorham and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Wales 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 ME: 22.4%	11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	5.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME	$77,004±$5kLowest 3% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME	$250,400±$28kLowest 16% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME	$1,154±$64Lowest about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 59% above ME	$2,578Lowest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	83.3%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Wales 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 ME: 10.7%	25.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 10% above ME	28 minHighest 14% above ME
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	22.2%±13.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wales 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	—
School district	Gorham Public Schools	RSU 04
High school in town	Gorham High School	Oak Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.