Compare towns
Gorham vs Peabody 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 most affordable homes ($162k median).
Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k median).
Shelburne has the most homeowners (86%).
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 | Peabody | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682 |
54,695Highest |
530Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4Lowest 16% 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% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Peabody 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. |
$96,657±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$93,125±$18k 15% above U.S. |
| Peabody and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S. |
$280,200±$45k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,130±$62 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$5,065Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,801Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
10%±70.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peabody and Shelburne 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Peabody | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.