What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterboro has the most affordable homes ($297k 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	Waterboro	Gorham
People
Population	8,055Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42±3.1Highest 6% below ME	39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME
	Waterboro and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	20.9%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Waterboro and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Gorham and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	44.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,392±$16kLowest 20% above ME	$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$297,000±$23kLowest about the ME average	$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$461Lowest 5% above ME	$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME
	Gorham and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,772Lowest 9% below ME	$4,825Highest 59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.2%±12.5Highest ME: 48.4%	37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Waterboro and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 42% above ME	27 minLowest 10% above ME
Work from home	10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#80 of 133 in ME	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Massabesic High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	12.9Lowest
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.