Compare towns
Gorham vs Mars Hill vs Shelburne
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 oldest population (median age 53.9).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($280k median).
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 | Mars Hill | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
1,398 |
530Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.4±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50.3±11 29% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Mars Hill 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. |
$65,273±$9k 19% below U.S. |
$93,125±$18kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$163,600±$23k 51% below U.S. |
$280,200±$45kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
$1,130±$62Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$3,801 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
10%±70.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Mars Hill 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne and Mars Hill 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 42/MSAD 42 | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
8.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.