What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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	Topsham	Gorham
People
Population	9,706Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.7±4Highest about the ME average	39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME
	Topsham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Gorham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50%Highest ME: 36.2%	44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME	$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME	$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME	$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME
	Gorham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,259Lowest 40% above ME	$4,825Highest 59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4%	37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Topsham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	81.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% below ME	27 minHighest 10% above ME
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Gorham and Topsham 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	#66 of 133 in ME	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.