Compare towns

Brooks vs Gorham vs Waldo

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Waldo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

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.

MeasureBrooksGorhamWaldo
People
Population
1,208
2,682Highest
926Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±6.6
18% above U.S.
53.9±3.6Highest
39% above U.S.
37.5±9.6Lowest
4% below U.S.
Gorham and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
12.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooks and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,130±$10kLowest
27% below U.S.
$61,275±$7k
24% below U.S.
$71,458±$21kHighest
11% below U.S.
Waldo and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$196,700±$33k
41% below U.S.
$161,600±$49kLowest
51% below U.S.
$208,000±$41kHighest
37% below U.S.
Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,116±$112
21% below U.S.
$838±$83Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,150±$691Highest
19% below U.S.
Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,096
33% below U.S.
$4,334Highest
39% above U.S.
$1,623Lowest
48% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±20.3
U.S.: 51.1%
74.1%±36.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Waldo and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
14.5%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Waldo and Brooks 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 RSU 03/MSAD 03 Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District Waldo-Region 7
High school in town None in town Gorham High School None in town
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.