Compare towns
Alstead vs Ripton vs Windham 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).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Ripton | Windham | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
508Lowest |
594 |
716 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$80,417±$7k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | — | $1,575±$894 11% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,579 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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 | 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.