Compare towns
Alstead vs Gorham vs Swanton
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 people working from home (12.1%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
2,682Highest |
2,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
37.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swanton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Alstead 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. |
$66,607±$27kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Swanton 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 18% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$229,000±$15k 31% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,238±$103Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$4,370 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Gorham 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% |
20.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alstead and Swanton 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.