Compare towns
Alstead vs Unity vs Walpole vs Gilsum
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 highest household income ($88k).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Unity | Walpole | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,375 |
3,690Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH |
| Unity and Alstead 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%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Unity 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% |
21.6% NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Walpole 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±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
$80,417±$7k 19% below NH |
| Unity and Walpole 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 |
$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH |
| Walpole and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,575±$894 6% above NH |
| Unity and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$5,394 19% below NH |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
$5,579 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Gilsum 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 | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Unity School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.