Compare towns
Alstead vs Gorham vs Ripton vs Colebrook
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 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 | Ripton | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
2,682Highest |
508Lowest |
1,988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
53.7±4.9 38% 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%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Colebrook and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Ripton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$51,159±$6kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$192,200±$59k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $838±$83Highest 41% below U.S. |
— | $750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,350 39% 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% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Ripton 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Highest |
— | 8.4Lowest |
| 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.