Compare towns

Brookfield vs Gorham vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldGorhamPlainfield
People
Population
1,486
2,682Highest
1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±5.9Lowest
21% above U.S.
53.9±3.6Highest
39% above U.S.
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
Gorham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±6.4
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Gorham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,500±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$61,275±$7kLowest
24% below U.S.
$69,250±$31k
14% below U.S.
Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$339,300±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$161,600±$49kLowest
51% below U.S.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306
31% below U.S.
$838±$83Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,153±$103Highest
18% below U.S.
Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560
46% above U.S.
$4,334Lowest
39% above U.S.
$4,806Highest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±20.3
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield and Plainfield 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 — #57 of 120 in NH —
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District —
High school in town None in town Gorham High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.0
—
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.