Compare towns
Alstead vs Canaan 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).
Canaan has the most people working from home (15.4%).
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 | Canaan | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
810Lowest |
2,682Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
53.2±4.6Lowest 37% 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% |
15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Canaan and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.5%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$11kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$55,606±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Gorham 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. |
$201,900±$46k 39% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,389Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±63.5Lowest 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% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canaan 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 | Canaan School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Canaan High School CTE Program | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.