Compare towns
Gorham vs Jefferson vs Whitefield
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%).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
1,013Lowest |
2,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
51.4±4.6Lowest 19% 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% |
14.3%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Whitefield 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% |
28.6%±5.4Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Whitefield 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±$13kHighest 32% below NH |
$63,125±$12k 36% below NH |
| Jefferson and Whitefield 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 |
$240,400±$22k 40% below NH |
| Jefferson and Whitefield 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 |
$1,077±$160Highest 28% below NH |
| Whitefield and Jefferson 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 |
$4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,394Highest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Whitefield 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 NH: 7.2% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
35 minHighest 29% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson and Whitefield 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 | — | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.