What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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	Somersworth	Gorham
People
Population	12,111Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average	39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average
	Gorham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gorham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S.	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S.	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,477±$134Lowest 5% above U.S.	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.
	Gorham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,805Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Somersworth and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 120 in NH	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Somersworth School District	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Somersworth High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.