What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).

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	Wolfeboro
People
Population	18,300Highest	6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.	$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Gorham and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,825Highest 55% above U.S.	$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolfeboro 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	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Public Schools	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.1Lowest
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.