What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waterboro has the most affordable homes ($297k 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	Waterboro
People
Population	18,300Highest	8,055Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME	42±3.1Highest 6% below ME
	Waterboro 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%	22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Waterboro 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%	14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Gorham and Waterboro 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 ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	4.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME	$89,392±$16kLowest 20% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME	$297,000±$23kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME	$1,200±$461Lowest 5% above ME
	Gorham and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 59% above ME	$2,772Lowest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.2%±12.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Waterboro 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%	6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 10% above ME	35 minHighest 42% above ME
Work from home	19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%	10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 133 in ME	#80 of 133 in ME
School district	Gorham Public Schools	RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town	Gorham High School	Massabesic High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	13.5Highest
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.