Compare towns
Gorham vs Nelson vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Randolph has the most expensive homes ($407k 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 | Nelson | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
648 |
420Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
57.5±10.9Highest 33% above NH |
| Randolph and Gorham 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.5%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Randolph 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% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.5%±3.7 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Randolph 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 |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$101,750±$16kHighest about the NH average |
| Randolph and Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$407,000±$57kHighest about the NH average |
| Randolph and Nelson 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 |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,667±$215Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 35% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$4,269Lowest 36% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±53.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Randolph and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1963Lowest 16 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.5%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Randolph 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 | Nelson 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 | 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.