Compare towns
Alstead vs Gorham vs Wayne 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Wayne | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
2,682Highest |
1,101Lowest |
1,988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% 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. |
55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
53.7±4.9Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Wayne and Colebrook 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% |
29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Wayne 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% |
48.8%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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Wayne 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±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$51,159±$6kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Wayne 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±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$192,200±$59k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$983±$554Highest 30% below U.S. |
$750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Gorham 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. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% 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%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Colebrook 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% |
7.9% 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% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above 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% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | RSU 38 | 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.