Compare towns
Alstead vs Lancaster vs Gilsum
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).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Gilsum has the shortest commute (27 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 | Lancaster | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
8,606Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Gilsum 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% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$80,417±$7k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,575±$894Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,579 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum and Alstead 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Nashoba | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.