Compare towns
Gorham vs Canaan vs Berlin
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 oldest population (median age 53.9).
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k 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.
| Measure | Gorham | Canaan | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Lowest |
3,811 |
9,383Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
44.6±2.8 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Berlin and Canaan 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% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.1%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan 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 38% below NH |
$81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH |
$45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49k 60% below NH |
$254,000±$26kHighest 37% below NH |
$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 44% below NH |
$1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH |
$815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 35% below NH |
$5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$3,437Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.7%±12 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Berlin 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% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
15.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
19 minLowest 30% below NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.5%±2.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
10.3Highest |
8.2Lowest |
| 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.