Compare towns

Berlin vs Lowell 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

Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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.

MeasureBerlinLowellGorham
People
Population
9,383Highest
1,070Lowest
2,682
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±2.8
15% above U.S.
32.9±6.5Lowest
15% below U.S.
53.9±3.6Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
30.7%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.1%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
12.3%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
14.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Lowell 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.
$57,404±$15k
29% below U.S.
$61,275±$7kHighest
24% below U.S.
Gorham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$131,000±$15kLowest
61% below U.S.
$183,400±$33kHighest
45% below U.S.
$161,600±$49k
51% below U.S.
Lowell and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$815±$141Lowest
42% below U.S.
$945±$46Highest
33% below U.S.
$838±$83
41% below U.S.
Lowell and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,437
10% above U.S.
$2,810Lowest
10% below U.S.
$4,334Highest
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.7%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
26.3%±92.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±20.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Berlin and Gorham 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%
9.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
55 minHighest
109% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
3.5%±2.1
U.S.: 15.1%
7.5%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lowell 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 Berlin School District Lowell School District Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District
High school in town Berlin Senior High School None in town Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.2Lowest
—
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.