Compare towns
Dummer vs Effingham vs Gorham vs Stark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummer has the highest household income ($91k).
Effingham has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
Gorham has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).
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 | Dummer | Effingham | Gorham | Stark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 299Lowest |
1,912 |
2,682Highest |
419 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 24% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH |
| Stark and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±6.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
20.3% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
17.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±5.7Lowest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8 NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$21kHighest 8% below NH |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$71,750±$23k 28% below NH |
| Dummer and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,200±$51k 40% below NH |
$322,700±$30kHighest 20% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$197,700±$34k 51% below NH |
| Effingham and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,090±$121Highest 27% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,898 57% below NH |
$5,163Highest 23% below NH |
$4,334 35% below NH |
$2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stark and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham and Stark 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 | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Stark School District |
| 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.