Compare towns

Gorham vs Franklin 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).
Franklin has the most kids (17.8% 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.

MeasureGorhamFranklinWhitefield
People
Population
2,682
8,799Highest
2,516Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+3.1%
NH: +4.6%
+8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
53.9±3.6Highest
24% above NH
42.7±2Lowest
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%
17.8%±3.5Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.3%±4.6
NH: 18.2%
Franklin 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%
21.3%±3.9Lowest
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%
NH: 40.6%
19.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
26.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±2.8Highest
NH: 6%
3.2%±1.4Lowest
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
$71,648±$4kHighest
28% below NH
$63,125±$12k
36% below NH
Franklin 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
$262,200±$22kHighest
35% below NH
$240,400±$22k
40% below NH
Franklin 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
$1,110±$68Highest
26% below NH
$1,077±$160
28% below NH
Franklin and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,334Lowest
35% below NH
$4,886Highest
27% below NH
$4,394
34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±20.3
NH: 48.2%
38.8%±11.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
47.9%±15.6Highest
NH: 48.2%
Whitefield 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%
7%
NH: 7.2%
11%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.2%
NH: 72.8%
62.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
8 yrs older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1965
14 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below NH
32 minHighest
18% above NH
26 min
about the NH average
Work from home
1.7%±1.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
8.3%±4.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
7.2%±4.7
NH: 16.8%
Franklin 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 #112 of 120 in NH #86 of 120 in NH
School district Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District Franklin School District White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town Gorham High School Franklin High School White Mountains Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0
16.2Highest
7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.