Compare towns
Brooks vs Mapleton 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
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).
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.
| Measure | Brooks | Mapleton | Gorham | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,884 |
2,682Highest |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% 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. |
41.8±6 7% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Waldo 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% |
18.3%±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% |
34.3% 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% |
5%±2.9 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Waldo 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. |
$191,800±$23k 42% 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$838±$83 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. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
8.9% 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% |
79.9% 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. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above 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% |
10.8%±3.8 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.