Compare towns
Gorham vs Bristol 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).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Shelburne has the most homeowners (86%).
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 | Bristol | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682 |
3,273Highest |
530Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
50.3±11 16% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
36.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest 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 |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$93,125±$18kHighest 6% below NH |
| Shelburne and Bristol 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 |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$280,200±$45kHighest 30% below NH |
| Shelburne and Bristol 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 |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$1,130±$62 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Highest 35% below NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
$3,801Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol 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% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol and Shelburne 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Newfound Area School District | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Newfound Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| 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.