Compare towns
Alstead vs Colebrook vs Gilsum
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).
Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Gilsum has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Colebrook | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,988Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
53.7±4.9 24% above NH |
44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH |
| Alstead and Colebrook 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% |
13.2%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Colebrook and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
18.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
$51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH |
$80,417±$7kHighest 19% below NH |
| Gilsum 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 33% below NH |
$192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH |
$241,500±$32k 40% below NH |
| Alstead and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $750±$238Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
| Gilsum and Colebrook 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 |
$4,350Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,579Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.3%±19.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.3% NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Colebrook School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.4 |
— |
| 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.