What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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	Stowe	Gorham
People
Population	5,285Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Stowe and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Gorham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S.	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.
	Gorham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gorham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stowe 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	—	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Stowe Town School District	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Stowe High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	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.