Compare towns
Whitefield vs Canaan vs Gorham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Canaan has the most people working from home (15.4%).
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 | Canaan | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,516 |
810Lowest |
2,682Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.6Lowest 32% above U.S. |
53.2±4.6 37% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Canaan 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% |
15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canaan 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% |
28.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest 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±$12kHighest 22% below U.S. |
$55,606±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
| Whitefield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$22kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$201,900±$46k 39% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Whitefield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,077±$160Highest 24% below U.S. |
— | $838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Whitefield and Gorham 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. |
$3,389Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±63.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitefield and Gorham 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% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canaan 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 | Canaan School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | White Mountains Regional High School | Canaan High School CTE Program | 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 |
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.