Compare towns
Gorham vs Keene vs Surry
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).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Keene | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682 |
22,939Highest |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Surry 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% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
| Surry and Keene 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 |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$331,400±$23kHighest 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Surry and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Keene School District | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Keene High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| 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.