What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the most kids (12.5% under 18).

Benton has the most expensive homes ($288k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gorham	Benton
People
Population	2,682Highest	386Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	53.9±3.6Lowest 24% above NH	62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH
Kids under 18	12.5%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2%	6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Gorham and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	37.3%±12.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Benton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	18.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH	$67,895±$4kHighest 31% below NH
	Benton 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	$288,300±$46kHighest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$838±$83 44% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,334Highest 35% below NH	$2,922Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Benton 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%	15.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 15% below NH	32 minHighest 20% above NH
Work from home	1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	2.6%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8%
	Benton and Gorham 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 Our Story	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.