Compare towns
Gorham vs Peterborough vs Shelburne
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).
Peterborough has the most people working from home (15.8%).
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 | Peterborough | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682 |
6,408Highest |
530Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
52.1±1.9 20% above NH |
50.3±11Lowest 16% above NH |
| Gorham and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Peterborough and Gorham 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% |
30.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±4.5 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Shelburne 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 |
$98,401±$8kHighest about the NH average |
$93,125±$18k 6% below NH |
| Peterborough 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 60% below NH |
$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$280,200±$45k 30% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
$1,130±$62 24% below NH |
| Peterborough and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 35% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$3,801Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gorham and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
25 minHighest 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Peterborough 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Conval Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.