Compare towns
Alstead vs Hooksett vs Gorham vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
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 | Hooksett | Gorham | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
15,057Highest |
2,682 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
| Bridgewater 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% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Gorham 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 |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,334 35% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hooksett 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.