What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.3%).

Lancaster has the most people working from home (11.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gorham	Lancaster
People
Population	2,682Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH
	Gorham and Lancaster 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%	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%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Gorham and Lancaster 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%	30.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Lowest 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	$68,911±$23kHighest 30% below NH
	Lancaster and Gorham 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	$215,700±$24kHighest 46% below NH
	Lancaster and Gorham 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	$1,019±$263Highest 32% below NH
	Lancaster and Gorham 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	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41%±20.3Highest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Lowest 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%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 8 yrs older than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 15% below NH	23 minHighest 14% below NH
Work from home	1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%
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

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.