What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the most homeowners (71.6%).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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	Lawrence
People
Population	2,682Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S.	32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gorham and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,275±$7kHighest 24% below U.S.	$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S.
	Gorham and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S.	$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S.	$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,334Highest 39% above U.S.	$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lawrence and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	6.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#57 of 120 in NH	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District	Lawrence
High school in town	Gorham High School	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	13.6Highest
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.