Compare towns
Alstead vs Gorham vs Windham vs Walpole
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 oldest population (median age 56).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Windham | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
18,300 |
19,188Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Walpole 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Walpole 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Windham 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. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% 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% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Walpole 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 14 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.