Compare towns
Alstead vs Gorham vs Keene
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 the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
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 | Gorham | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
2,682 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Keene and Gorham 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% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$78,445±$8kHighest 21% below NH |
| Keene and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kHighest 33% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
| Alstead and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Keene 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% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.