Compare towns
Gorham vs Benton 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).
Benton has the oldest population (median age 62.1).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (9.3%).
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 | Benton | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
386Lowest |
530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% NH: +4.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH |
50.3±11Lowest 16% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Gorham and Shelburne 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% |
31.7%±5.5Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
18.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest 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±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$67,895±$4k 31% below NH |
$93,125±$18kHighest 6% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$288,300±$46kHighest 28% below NH |
$280,200±$45k 30% below NH |
| Benton and Shelburne 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 |
— | $1,130±$62Highest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Highest 35% below NH |
$2,922Lowest 56% below NH |
$3,801 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4Lowest 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% |
5.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
2.6%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Shelburne and Benton 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 |
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.