Compare towns
Gorham vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs Berlin
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k 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 | Middlesex | Worcester | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682 |
1,943 |
831Lowest |
9,383Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
44.6±2.8 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Gorham 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49k 51% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.5%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | — | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | — | 8.2Lowest |
| 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.