Compare towns
Gorham vs Shelburne vs Colebrook
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).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (9.3%).
Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Shelburne | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
530Lowest |
1,988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
50.3±11Lowest 16% above NH |
53.7±4.9 24% above NH |
| Gorham and Colebrook 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% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.2%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Colebrook 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% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7% NH: 40.6% |
36.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
4%±4.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest 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±$7k 38% below NH |
$93,125±$18kHighest 6% below NH |
$51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$280,200±$45kHighest 30% below NH |
$192,200±$59k 52% below NH |
| Shelburne and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 44% below NH |
$1,130±$62Highest 24% below NH |
$750±$238Lowest 50% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 35% below NH |
$3,801Lowest 43% below NH |
$4,350Highest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.3%±19.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Colebrook 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 NH: 7.2% |
5.5% NH: 7.2% |
13.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
86%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
25 minHighest 6% below NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Shelburne and Colebrook 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 | — | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | 8.4Lowest |
| 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.