What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).

Gorham has the most homeowners (81.5%).

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	Lebanon	Gorham
People
Population	14,999Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average	39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average
	Gorham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lebanon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S.	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Gorham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S.	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Lebanon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,149Highest 161% above U.S.	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lebanon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 47% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lebanon 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	#29 of 120 in NH	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Lebanon School District	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Lebanon High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.9Highest
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.