Compare towns
Alstead vs Hampton Beach vs Whitefield vs Gorham
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 homeowners (76%).
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Whitefield has the most kids (14.3% under 18).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Hampton Beach | Whitefield | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
2,605 |
2,516 |
2,682Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
51.4±4.6Lowest 19% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Whitefield 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 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.6%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Gorham 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% |
34%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.7% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Whitefield 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 35% below NH |
$82,557±$17kHighest 17% below NH |
$63,125±$12k 36% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
| Hampton Beach 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 33% below NH |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$240,400±$22k 40% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,077±$160 28% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$6,115Highest 8% below NH |
$4,394 34% below NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9% NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #86 of 120 in NH | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | White Mountains Regional School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | White Mountains Regional High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9Lowest |
9.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.