Compare towns
Buxton vs North Hampton vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Buxton | North Hampton | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512 |
4,543Lowest |
18,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| North Hampton and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton and Gorham 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 | #104 of 133 in ME | #12 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | North Hampton School District | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.