Compare towns
Berlin vs Gorham vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering BerlinMilan
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).
Townsend has the most people working from home (10.5%).
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 | Berlin | Gorham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,383Highest |
2,682Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.8 15% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49k 51% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
$838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.5%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #108 of 120 in NH | #57 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Berlin Senior High School | Gorham High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
9.0 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.