What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($222k 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	Sullivan	Gorham
People
Population	1,246Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.1±15Highest 5% above ME	39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME
	Sullivan and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Gorham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Sullivan and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%	44.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Lowest ME: 5.8%	13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME	$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME	$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME	$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,228Lowest 27% below ME	$4,825Highest 59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Gorham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 7% above ME	27 minHighest 10% above ME
Work from home	12.6%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Gorham and Sullivan 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	RSU 24	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Sumner Memorial High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.