Compare towns
Gorham vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Colebrook
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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
1,988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.7±4.9 38% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Appleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$51,159±$6kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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 51% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$192,200±$59k 42% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$750±$238 47% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,350Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Colebrook 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | — | 8.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.