Compare towns
Gorham vs Fair Haven vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Fair Haven has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (9.3%).
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 | Fair Haven | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682 |
2,724Highest |
530Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.3±11 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Fair Haven 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 24% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16k 23% below U.S. |
$93,125±$18kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$280,200±$45kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,130±$62Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$3,801Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
10%±70.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne and Fair Haven 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.