Compare towns

Brookline vs Gorham vs Marshfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most expensive homes ($291k median).
Gorham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Marshfield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).

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.

MeasureBrooklineGorhamMarshfield
People
Population
531
2,682Highest
470Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
53.9±3.6Highest
39% above U.S.
42.4±8.8Lowest
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±9.1
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
10.2%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
$61,275±$7kLowest
24% below U.S.
$84,375±$20kHighest
5% above U.S.
Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37kHighest
13% below U.S.
$161,600±$49kLowest
51% below U.S.
$178,300±$31k
46% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$838±$83Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,125±$79
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Highest
60% above U.S.
$4,334
39% above U.S.
$3,269Lowest
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±20.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±62.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.5%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Marshfield 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 — Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District —
High school in town — Gorham High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.0
—
On TownTapestry
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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.