What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).

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	Salem	Gorham
People
Population	30,964Highest	18,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Salem and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Gorham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Salem and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S.	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.
	Gorham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham and Salem 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	#38 of 120 in NH	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Salem School District	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Salem High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	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.