What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).

Gorham has the most affordable homes ($461k median).

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	Pelham	Gorham
People
Population	14,449Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S.	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Pelham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pelham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gorham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Pelham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.
	Gorham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7% U.S.: 12.5%	3.7% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pelham 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	#48 of 120 in NH	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Pelham School District	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Pelham High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	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.