Compare towns
Gorham vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Plainfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682 |
1,314Lowest |
9,383Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
44.6±2.8Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49k 51% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Berlin 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% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.5%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | 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 |
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.