Compare towns
Alstead vs Appleton vs Gilsum
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Gilsum has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Alstead | Appleton | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
1,360 |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$80,417±$7kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Gilsum and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$241,500±$32k 27% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Gilsum and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,579Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alstead and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.