Compare towns
Fairfield vs Gorham vs Sheldon vs Fletcher
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Fairfield | Gorham | Sheldon | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,682Highest |
2,267 |
1,196Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.7±7.3 25% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$105,833±$9kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Fletcher and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$302,100±$37k 9% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,679±$427Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Fletcher and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 54% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,965Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±78.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fletcher and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Fletcher 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Fletcher School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | 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.