Compare towns
Alstead vs Dalton 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 the oldest population (median age 56).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Gilsum has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Dalton | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
916 |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.7% NH: +4.6% |
-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
44.5±12.9Lowest about the NH average |
44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
| Alstead and Gilsum 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% |
20.6%±11.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dalton 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% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.6% NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dalton 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±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$81,429±$36kHighest 18% below NH |
$80,417±$7k 19% below NH |
| Dalton and Gilsum 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 |
$191,400±$68kLowest 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 | — | $900±$825Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
| Gilsum and Dalton 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 |
$3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
$5,579Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±83.7Lowest 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% |
19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
13.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.