Compare towns
Alstead vs Douglas vs Gilsum
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 oldest population (median age 56).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Gilsum has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Douglas | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
9,207Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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 20% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$80,417±$7k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Gilsum and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$5,579 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Douglas | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.