Compare towns
Alstead vs Gorham vs Needham
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 the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
2,682 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #57 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.