Compare towns
Alstead 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
Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
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 | Bridgewater | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,169Lowest |
2,682Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
53.9±3.6Lowest 24% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gorham and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 28.3% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Gorham 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 35% below NH |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
| Bridgewater 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±$37k 33% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 20% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,334 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Bridgewater 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 | — | — | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Newfound Area School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.