Compare towns

Whitefield vs Walpole 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureWhitefieldWalpoleGorham
People
Population
2,516Lowest
3,690Highest
2,682
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-2.7%
NH: +4.6%
-5.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
51.4±4.6
19% above NH
46.5±10.4Lowest
7% above NH
53.9±3.6Highest
24% above NH
Gorham and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.3%±4.6
NH: 18.2%
22.2%±5.2Highest
NH: 18.2%
12.5%±3.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Walpole 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
NH: 20.1%
25.5%±5.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
31.7%±6.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
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%
NH: 40.6%
32.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
20.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±3.2
NH: 6%
4%±2.8Lowest
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
$82,617±$16kHighest
17% below NH
$61,275±$7kLowest
38% below NH
Walpole 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
$319,800±$48kHighest
21% below NH
$161,600±$49kLowest
60% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,077±$160
28% below NH
$1,165±$150Highest
22% below NH
$838±$83Lowest
44% below NH
Walpole and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,394
34% below NH
$6,078Highest
9% below NH
$4,334Lowest
35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.9%±15.6
NH: 48.2%
51.6%±21.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
41%±20.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Walpole and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11%
NH: 7.2%
11.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
69.9%
NH: 72.8%
71.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
14 yrs older than NH
1967
12 yrs older than NH
1971Highest
8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the NH average
23 min
13% below NH
23 minLowest
15% below NH
Work from home
7.2%±4.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
7.2%±4.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #86 of 120 in NH #27 of 120 in NH #57 of 120 in NH
School district White Mountains Regional School District Fall Mountain Regional 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.