Compare towns

Gorham vs Ira vs Jay

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).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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.

MeasureGorhamIraJay
People
Population
2,682Highest
381Lowest
471
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.9±3.6
39% above U.S.
54.1±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
52.1±10.5Lowest
34% above U.S.
Ira and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.5%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±7.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Jay 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%
28.9%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Gorham and Ira 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
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Ira 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.
$71,827±$5k
11% below U.S.
$74,792±$25kHighest
7% below U.S.
Jay and Ira 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.
$272,900±$18kHighest
18% below U.S.
$234,200±$45k
30% below U.S.
Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$838±$83Lowest
41% below U.S.
$942±$52Highest
33% below U.S.
—
Ira and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,334Highest
39% above U.S.
$4,146
33% above U.S.
$3,588Lowest
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±20.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Gorham and Jay 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%
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
Work from home
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #57 of 120 in NH — —
School district Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District — Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 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.