Compare towns
Alstead vs Gilsum vs Unity
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 youngest population (median age 44.8).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
716Lowest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
| Unity and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Alstead and Gilsum 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% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Unity 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 NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
21.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
| Unity 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 |
$276,100±$29kHighest 31% below NH |
| Unity and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,575±$894Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
| Unity and Gilsum 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 |
$5,394 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Lowest 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% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Unity 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.