Compare towns
Gorham vs Appleton vs Colebrook vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the highest household income ($61k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k 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 | Gorham | Appleton | Colebrook | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682 |
1,360Lowest |
1,988 |
9,383Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.7±4.9 38% above U.S. |
44.6±2.8Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,275±$7kHighest 24% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$51,159±$6k 37% below U.S. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49k 51% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$192,200±$59k 42% below U.S. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$815±$141 42% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,350Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.5%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Appleton and Colebrook 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 | — | — | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Appleton Public Schools | Colebrook School District | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | 8.4 |
8.2Lowest |
| 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.