Compare towns
Gorham vs Ashland vs Whitefield
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).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Gorham | Ashland | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
2,183Lowest |
2,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
51.4±4.6 19% above NH |
| Gorham and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Whitefield 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% |
28.6%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Whitefield 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 |
$63,125±$12kHighest 36% below NH |
| Whitefield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$227,000±$29k 44% below NH |
$240,400±$22kHighest 40% below NH |
| Whitefield 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±$155Highest 26% below NH |
$1,077±$160 28% below NH |
| Ashland and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$4,961Highest 26% below NH |
$4,394 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Whitefield and Gorham 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% |
11% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Ashland and Whitefield 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 | — | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Ashland School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.