Compare towns
Charleston vs Gorham vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Orange has the most kids (15.6% under 18).
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 | Charleston | Gorham | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
2,682Highest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Orange and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
| Charleston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444 31% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Orange and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 20% above U.S. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Orange 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 | Charleston School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.