Compare towns
Gorham vs Jefferson vs Lancaster
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).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Jefferson | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682 |
1,013Lowest |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
| Jefferson 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% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Gorham 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% |
33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Jefferson 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% |
28.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Lancaster 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 |
$67,188±$13k 32% below NH |
$68,911±$23kHighest 30% below NH |
| Lancaster and Jefferson 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 |
$296,700±$92kHighest 26% below NH |
$215,700±$24k 46% below NH |
| Jefferson and Lancaster 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 |
$867±$156 42% below NH |
$1,019±$263Highest 32% below NH |
| Lancaster and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Highest 35% below NH |
$4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
| Gorham and Lancaster 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% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
35 minHighest 29% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson and Lancaster 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | — | White Mountains 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.