What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.3%).

Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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	Penobscot
People
Population	2,682Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S.	53.4±5.7Lowest 37% above U.S.
	Gorham and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Penobscot and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Penobscot and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S.	$63,194±$14kHighest 22% below U.S.
	Penobscot and Gorham 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.	$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S.	$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,334Highest 39% above U.S.	$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Penobscot 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%	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#57 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	Gorham High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0	—
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.