Compare towns
Alstead vs Standish vs Gorham
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).
Standish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Standish | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
10,662Highest |
2,682 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% 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% |
16.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Standish and Gorham 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% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest 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% |
36%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$104,593±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$336,000±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $983±$453Highest 30% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Standish and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Standish and Alstead 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 | — | #18 of 133 in ME | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.