Compare towns

Gorham vs Williston vs Colebrook

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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Colebrook has the most renters (30.6% rent).

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.

MeasureGorhamWillistonColebrook
People
Population
2,682
10,144Highest
1,988Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.9±3.6Highest
39% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
53.7±4.9
38% above U.S.
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%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.2%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Colebrook 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%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Gorham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Williston 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.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$51,159±$6kLowest
37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$161,600±$49kLowest
51% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$192,200±$59k
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$838±$83
41% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$750±$238Lowest
47% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,334Lowest
39% above U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$4,350
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±20.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±19.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Colebrook and Williston 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%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
21 min
20% below U.S.
Work from home
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #57 of 120 in NH #11 of 70 in VT —
School district Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Colebrook School District
High school in town Gorham High School None in town Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0Highest
—
8.4Lowest
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.