Compare towns
Alstead vs Lancaster vs Gilsum
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Gilsum has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 |
3,216Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster 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% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| 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 35% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$80,417±$7kHighest 19% below NH |
| Gilsum and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kHighest 33% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$241,500±$32k 40% below NH |
| Alstead and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
| Gilsum and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,579Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
13.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Gilsum 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.