Compare towns
Alstead vs Wells 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 most renters (24% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Wells | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
1,148 |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Wells 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% |
29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 20% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$80,417±$7kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Gilsum and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$282Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Gilsum and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$5,579Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alstead and Gilsum 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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 |
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.