Compare towns
Gorham vs Cornish 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).
Cornish has the most people working from home (12%).
Shelburne has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Cornish | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
1,816 |
530Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
50.3±11Lowest 16% above NH |
| Cornish and Gorham 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% |
14.4%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Cornish and Gorham 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% |
27.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
$93,125±$18kHighest 6% below NH |
| Shelburne and Cornish 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 |
$296,000±$69kHighest 26% below NH |
$280,200±$45k 30% below NH |
| Cornish 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 |
$1,221±$227Highest 18% below NH |
$1,130±$62 24% below NH |
| Cornish and Shelburne 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 |
$5,796Highest 13% below NH |
$3,801Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gorham and Cornish 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%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 |
24 min 9% below NH |
25 minHighest 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Cornish 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 | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Cornish School District | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.