Compare towns
Alstead vs Needham vs Gorham 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 the oldest population (median age 56).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Needham | Gorham | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
32,459Highest |
2,682 |
1,988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
53.7±4.9 38% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Gorham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$51,159±$6kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$192,200±$59k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$4,350 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Needham | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Gorham High School | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
9.0 |
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.