What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlestown has the most people working from home (7.6%).

Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Charlestown	Gorham
People
Population	4,889Highest	2,682Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-5.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.6±8.5Lowest 4% below NH	53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	22.4%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%	12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	22.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Gorham and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	20.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 6%	6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6%
	Gorham and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,338±$23kLowest 52% below NH	$61,275±$7kHighest 38% below NH
	Gorham and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$228,000±$62kHighest 43% below NH	$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH
	Charlestown and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,099±$85Highest 26% below NH	$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,143Highest 23% below NH	$4,334Lowest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2%	41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Charlestown and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	7.6%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Charlestown 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	#113 of 120 in NH	#57 of 120 in NH
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District
High school in town	None in town	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.