Compare towns
Appleton vs Colebrook vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k 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.
| Measure | Appleton | Colebrook | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,988 |
2,682Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
53.7±4.9 38% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$51,159±$6kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7kHighest 24% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$192,200±$59k 42% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$838±$83 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,350Highest 39% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Appleton and Colebrook 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 |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Colebrook School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.4Lowest |
9.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.