Compare towns
Alstead vs Gilsum vs Nelson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Gilsum | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
716 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Nelson 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% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Gilsum 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 |
$80,417±$7k 19% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
| Nelson 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±$37k 33% below NH |
$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
| Nelson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Gilsum and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$5,579Highest 16% below NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None 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.