Compare towns
Gorham vs Mapleton vs Starks
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Mapleton has the most people working from home (10.8%).
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
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 | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
1,884 |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Starks 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% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Starks 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% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest 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±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$63,500±$8k 21% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49k 51% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kHighest 42% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Gorham 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. |
$1,063±$301Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Starks and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

