Compare towns
Gorham vs Freedom vs Colebrook
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).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Freedom | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
1,494Lowest |
1,988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
53.7±4.9Lowest 24% above NH |
| Freedom and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.2%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Colebrook and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Freedom and Gorham 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% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Colebrook 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 |
$66,136±$14kHighest 33% below NH |
$51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH |
| Freedom and Gorham 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 |
$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH |
$192,200±$59k 52% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Highest 44% below NH |
— | $750±$238Lowest 50% below NH |
| Gorham and Colebrook 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 |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
$4,350Highest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.3%±19.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Colebrook 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
13.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Freedom School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | 8.4Lowest |
| 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.