Compare towns
Appleton vs Gorham vs Shelburne
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 the most kids (15.3% under 18).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Shelburne has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Gorham | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,682Highest |
530Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.3±11 29% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Shelburne 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% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Gorham 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% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$93,125±$18kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$280,200±$45kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Shelburne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,130±$62Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Shelburne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,801 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
10%±70.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Appleton and Shelburne 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 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.