Compare towns
Brookline vs Gorham vs Marshfield vs Windham
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 kids (20% under 18).
Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).
Marshfield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Gorham | Marshfield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
2,682Highest |
470Lowest |
594 |
| 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. |
44.2±7.4 14% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$20k 5% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Windham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$178,300±$31k 46% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above 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 | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$3,269Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% 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% |
41.2%±94 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest 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% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.