What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).

Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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	Washburn
People
Population	18,300Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME	48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME
	Washburn 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 ME: 18.1%	21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Washburn and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME	$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME	$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME	$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 59% above ME	$1,571Lowest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±24.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Gorham and Washburn 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%	12.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 10% above ME	21 minLowest 15% below ME
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%	9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Gorham Public Schools	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Gorham High School	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.0Lowest
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.