Compare towns

Berlin vs Sidney 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).
Sidney has the most people working from home (14.3%).
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.

MeasureBerlinSidneyGorham
People
Population
9,383Highest
4,790
2,682Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±2.8
15% above U.S.
43±5.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
53.9±3.6Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sidney 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%
18.4%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
14.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$45,180±$5kLowest
44% below U.S.
$83,488±$10kHighest
3% above U.S.
$61,275±$7k
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$131,000±$15kLowest
61% below U.S.
$336,200±$34kHighest
about the U.S. average
$161,600±$49k
51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$815±$141Lowest
42% below U.S.
$1,340±$304Highest
5% below U.S.
$838±$83
41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,437
10% above U.S.
$2,474Lowest
21% below U.S.
$4,334Highest
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.7%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
3.5%±2.1
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #108 of 120 in NH #15 of 133 in ME #57 of 120 in NH
School district Berlin School District RSU 18 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.