Compare towns
Jefferson vs Gorham vs Unity vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Jefferson | Gorham | Unity | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,013 |
2,682Highest |
1,375 |
464Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5 34% above NH |
53.9±3.6Lowest 24% above NH |
58±4.5 34% above NH |
60.8±6.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Lyman and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7 NH: 20.1% |
38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyman and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
21.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13k 32% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
$71,042±$17k 28% below NH |
| Unity and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
$311,100±$66kHighest 23% below NH |
| Lyman and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156 42% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,147±$81 23% below NH |
| Unity and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 37% below NH |
$4,334 35% below NH |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
$3,981Lowest 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
58.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyman and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
14.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 29% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson and Unity 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 | Unity School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 5 photos → | 4 photos → | 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.