Compare towns
Alstead vs Bow 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
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Alstead | Bow | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
8,335Highest |
2,682 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
| Alstead and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Bow 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 35% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bow School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.