Compare towns
Grafton vs Gorham vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).
Dalton has the shortest commute (20 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 | Grafton | Gorham | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354 |
2,682Highest |
916Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
44.5±12.9 about the NH average |
| Gorham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±11.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7% NH: 40.6% |
20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.3 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$22kHighest 18% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$81,429±$36k 18% below NH |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23kHighest 34% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$191,400±$68k 52% below NH |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163Highest 17% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$900±$825 40% below NH |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239Highest 21% below NH |
$4,334 35% below NH |
$3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±83.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dalton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
5.9%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.