Compare towns
Andover vs Gorham vs Peru vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Chester has the most kids (14.1% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Andover | Gorham | Peru | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
2,682 |
434Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Peru and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Peru and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Andover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Chester 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.