Compare towns

Alstead vs Fall River vs Gorham

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 most people working from home (12.1%).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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.

MeasureAlsteadFall RiverGorham
People
Population
1,551Lowest
94,082Highest
2,682
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56±3.3Highest
44% above U.S.
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.9±3.6
39% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.5%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27.8%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,526±$11kHighest
20% below U.S.
$56,673±$3kLowest
30% below U.S.
$61,275±$7k
24% below U.S.
Alstead and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,600±$37k
18% below U.S.
$395,500±$11kHighest
19% above U.S.
$161,600±$49kLowest
51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,155±$27Highest
18% below U.S.
$838±$83Lowest
41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,322Highest
71% above U.S.
$3,953Lowest
27% above U.S.
$4,334
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±3.3
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±20.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Alstead and Fall River 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%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
35.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±1.2
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Alstead and Fall River 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 — #262 of 282 in MA #57 of 120 in NH
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town B M C Durfee High Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.3Highest
9.0Lowest
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.