Compare towns
Washington vs Gorham vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Washington | Gorham | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
2,682Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Lowest 36% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
54.1±12.1Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$65,913±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Washington and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$260,900±$39kHighest 22% below U.S. |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,524±$467Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,762 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.3%±33.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chelsea and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Chelsea 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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.