Compare towns

Gorham vs Hardwick 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 affordable homes ($162k median).
Hardwick has the most people working from home (11.8%).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($280k median).

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.

MeasureGorhamHardwickShelburne
People
Population
2,682
2,965Highest
530Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
53.9±3.6Highest
39% above U.S.
47.1±7.4Lowest
21% above U.S.
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%
15.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hardwick 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%
27%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±4.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Shelburne 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.
$92,297±$17k
14% above U.S.
$93,125±$18kHighest
15% above U.S.
Shelburne and Hardwick 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.
$184,700±$39k
44% below U.S.
$280,200±$45kHighest
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$838±$83Lowest
41% below U.S.
$875±$406
38% below U.S.
$1,130±$62Highest
20% below U.S.
Shelburne and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,334
39% above U.S.
$4,351Highest
39% above U.S.
$3,801Lowest
22% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±20.3
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±41.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
10%±70.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hardwick 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%
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
86%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.3%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Hardwick and Shelburne 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 #68 of 70 in VT —
School district Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 —
High school in town Gorham High School Hazen Union High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0Highest
8.6Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.