Compare towns
Alstead vs Exeter 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%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,682 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above 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%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Gorham 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.