Compare towns
Orange vs Gorham vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most people working from home (13.5%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Orange | Gorham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
2,682Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Lowest 29% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Wells 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% |
29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Wells 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. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Orange and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 14% above U.S. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Wells 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.