Compare towns
Alstead vs Durham 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
Alstead has the most homeowners (76%).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
10,681Highest |
2,682 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
| 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%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gorham and Alstead 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Alstead 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.