Compare towns
Gorham vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the most people working from home (10.5%).
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 | Townsend | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Lowest |
9,100 |
9,383Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.6±2.8 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Berlin 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%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% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Townsend 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 24% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49k 51% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Highest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | North Middlesex | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | North Middlesex Regional | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
13.1Highest |
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.