Compare towns
Gorham vs Bellows Falls vs Shelburne
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 most affordable homes ($162k median).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Bellows Falls | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682 |
2,891Highest |
530Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.3±11 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Gorham 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 24% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$93,125±$18kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$280,200±$45kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
$1,130±$62Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Shelburne and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$4,448Highest 43% above U.S. |
$3,801Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
10%±70.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellows Falls 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne and Bellows Falls 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.