Compare towns
Alstead vs Webster 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 oldest population (median age 56).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Gilsum has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Webster | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
2,227Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH |
44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
| Alstead and Gilsum 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% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Gilsum 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 |
$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH |
$80,417±$7k 19% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH |
$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
| Gilsum and Webster 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 |
$6,021Highest 10% below NH |
$5,579 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Webster and Alstead 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 |
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.