Compare towns
Gorham vs Ashland vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Shelburne has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Ashland | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
2,183 |
530Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
50.3±11 16% above NH |
| Gorham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
36.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±4.5 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,275±$7k 38% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$93,125±$18kHighest 6% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$227,000±$29k 44% below NH |
$280,200±$45kHighest 30% below NH |
| Shelburne and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,130±$62Highest 24% below NH |
| Shelburne and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 35% below NH |
$4,961Highest 26% below NH |
$3,801Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gorham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Ashland and Shelburne 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 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Ashland School District | — |
| High school 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 |
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.