Compare towns
Gorham vs Hampton Beach vs Walpole
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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682 |
2,605Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
46.5±10.4Lowest 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Walpole 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 |
$82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH |
| Walpole and Hampton Beach 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 |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Walpole 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 |
$6,115Highest 8% below NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Walpole 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 8 yrs older than NH |
1971Highest 8 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 120 in NH | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional 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.