Compare towns
Gorham vs Benson vs Colebrook
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.3%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Benson | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
784Lowest |
1,988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
53.7±4.9 38% 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% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Colebrook 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% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.1 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% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson 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. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$51,159±$6kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$192,200±$59k 42% below U.S. |
| Benson 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. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,350Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | 8.4Lowest |
| 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.