Compare towns

Orange vs Gorham vs Topsham

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).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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.

MeasureOrangeGorhamTopsham
People
Population
957Lowest
2,682Highest
999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.3±5.3
29% above U.S.
53.9±3.6Highest
39% above U.S.
50.1±5.9Lowest
29% above U.S.
Gorham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
12.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±4.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Gorham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,302±$13k
12% below U.S.
$61,275±$7kLowest
24% below U.S.
$72,308±$60kHighest
10% below U.S.
Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$222,000±$22k
33% below U.S.
$161,600±$49kLowest
51% below U.S.
$222,900±$56kHighest
33% below U.S.
Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,330±$153Highest
6% below U.S.
$838±$83Lowest
41% below U.S.
$908±$398
36% below U.S.
Orange and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,545Lowest
14% above U.S.
$4,334Highest
39% above U.S.
$4,006
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±20.3
U.S.: 51.1%
91.9%±28.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
Work from home
13.5%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Topsham and Orange 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 Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District Waits River Union High District #36
High school in town None in town Gorham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.0
—
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.