Compare towns
Whitefield vs Bridgewater vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitefield has the most kids (14.3% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k median).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Bridgewater | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,516 |
1,169Lowest |
2,682Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.6Lowest 19% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Whitefield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater 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% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.2 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 36% below NH |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
| Bridgewater 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 40% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,077±$160 28% below NH |
$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,394Highest 34% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,334 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±15.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Whitefield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bridgewater and Whitefield 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 | Newfound Area School District | 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 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.