Compare towns
Alstead vs Unity vs Gorham vs Bridgewater
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 the most people working from home (12.1%).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
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 | Unity | Gorham | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,375 |
2,682Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
58±4.5 34% above NH |
53.9±3.6Lowest 24% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Gorham and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Bridgewater 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% |
21.6% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2 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 |
$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
| Unity and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
| Unity and Bridgewater 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 |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
$4,334 35% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Unity 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 | — | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Unity School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.