Compare towns
Barnard vs Gorham vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Barnard | Gorham | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
2,682Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,282Highest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Westford 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.