Compare towns
Whitefield vs Appleton vs Gorham vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitefield has the most renters (37.4% rent).
Appleton has the most kids (15.3% under 18).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Whitefield | Appleton | Gorham | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,516 |
1,360 |
2,682Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.6 32% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,125±$12k 22% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$67,188±$13kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$22k 28% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,077±$160 24% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$867±$156 39% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,394Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Appleton 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 | #86 of 120 in NH | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | White Mountains Regional High School | None in town | Gorham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 9.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 14 photos → |
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.