What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).

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

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	Jay	Gorham
People
Population	4,657Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.5±5.1Highest 12% below ME	39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME
	Jay and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Gorham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Jay and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	44.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME	$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME	$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME	$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,245Lowest 26% below ME	$4,825Highest 59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Gorham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 13% below ME	27 minHighest 10% above ME
Work from home	4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#86 of 133 in ME	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 73	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Spruce Mountain High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Lowest	12.9Highest
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.