Compare towns
Gorham vs Nelson vs Whitefield
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 people working from home (31.5%).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
648Lowest |
2,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.4±4.6 19% above NH |
| Gorham and Whitefield 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% |
14.3%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.6%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Whitefield 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±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$63,125±$12k 36% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$240,400±$22k 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$1,077±$160 28% below NH |
| Nelson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$4,394 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Whitefield 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% |
11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 120 in NH | — | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Nelson School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.