What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).

Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gorham	Durham
People
Population	2,682Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	12.5%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Gorham and Durham 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%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH	$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH	$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH	$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,334Lowest 35% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%
	Durham 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%	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 15% below NH	19 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#57 of 120 in NH	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Gorham High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	51 photos →

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.