Compare towns
Strafford vs Gorham vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
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 | Strafford | Gorham | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
18,300Highest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Newton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 95% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Newton 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Gorham Public Schools | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.