Compare towns
Sullivan vs Gorham vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Sullivan | Gorham | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
2,682Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Gorham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Sullivan and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29k 41% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Highest 18% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
| Sullivan and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099 24% below NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gorham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Nelson 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.