Compare towns
Alstead vs Canaan vs Wolfeboro 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
Canaan has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Canaan | Wolfeboro | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
3,811 |
6,571Highest |
2,682 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
28.2% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Canaan 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 35% below NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Canaan 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 |
$254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
| Canaan and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Alstead 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% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Canaan 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 | — | #83 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
11.1Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.