Compare towns
Ashland vs Berlin vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most people working from home (9.9%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).
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.
| Measure | Ashland | Berlin | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
9,383Highest |
2,682 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-6.2% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
44.6±2.8 3% above NH |
53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
20.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9k 45% below NH |
$45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH |
$61,275±$7kHighest 38% below NH |
| Gorham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kHighest 44% below NH |
$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH |
$161,600±$49k 60% below NH |
| Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Highest 26% below NH |
$815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
$838±$83 44% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Highest 26% below NH |
$3,437Lowest 48% below NH |
$4,334 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.7%±12Highest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Berlin and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
19 minLowest 30% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.5%±2.1 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Ashland and Berlin 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 | — | #108 of 120 in NH | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Berlin School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Berlin Senior High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.2Lowest |
9.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.