What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most people working from home (11.8%).

Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Gorham
People
Population	3,273Highest	2,682Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average	53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%	12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Gorham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6%	6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6%
	Gorham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$10kHighest 21% below NH	$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH
	Bristol and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$63kHighest 36% below NH	$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH
	Bristol and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH	$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,162Lowest 38% below NH	$4,334Highest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2%	41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Bristol and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	71.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8%	1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#79 of 120 in NH	#57 of 120 in NH
School district	Newfound Area School District	Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	9.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.