Compare towns
Alstead vs Gorham vs Marlow
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Marlow has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Gorham | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
18,300Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Marlow 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Gorham Public Schools | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
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.