Compare towns
Franklin vs Webster vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Franklin | Webster | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799Highest |
2,227Lowest |
2,682 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±2Lowest about the NH average |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
| Gorham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,648±$4k 28% below NH |
$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22k 35% below NH |
$338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68 26% below NH |
$1,396±$622Highest 6% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
| Webster and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886 27% below NH |
$6,021Highest 10% below NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 18% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 120 in NH | — | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.