Compare towns
Alstead vs Brooks vs Mapleton 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
Alstead has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Brooks | Mapleton | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,208Lowest |
1,884 |
2,682Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Gorham 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. |
$59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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. |
$196,700±$33k 41% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,116±$112Highest 21% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$838±$83 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,096 33% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brooks and Alstead 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.