Compare towns
Alstead vs Nelson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
648Lowest |
2,682Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Alstead 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
| Nelson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Nelson School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.