Compare towns
Gorham vs Bristol vs Whitefield
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).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682 |
3,273Highest |
2,516Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.4±4.6 19% above NH |
| Gorham and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.6%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Whitefield 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±$10kHighest 21% below NH |
$63,125±$12k 36% below NH |
| Bristol and Whitefield 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±$63kHighest 36% below NH |
$240,400±$22k 40% below NH |
| Bristol and Whitefield 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 |
$1,077±$160 28% below NH |
| Bristol and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 35% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$4,394Highest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Whitefield and Bristol 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% NH: 7.2% |
11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol and Whitefield 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 | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Newfound Area School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Newfound Regional High School | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
11.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.