Compare towns
Bristol vs Gorham vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Shelburne has the most homeowners (86%).
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 | Bristol | Gorham | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
2,682 |
530Lowest |
| 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 |
50.3±11 16% above NH |
| Gorham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
4%±4.5 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$93,125±$18kHighest 6% below NH |
| Shelburne and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$280,200±$45kHighest 30% below NH |
| Shelburne and Bristol 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 |
$1,130±$62 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162 38% below NH |
$4,334Highest 35% below NH |
$3,801Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4Lowest 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% |
5.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
86%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol and Shelburne 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 | #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 | 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.