Compare towns
Alstead vs Williston vs Walpole 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Williston | Walpole | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,690 |
2,682 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Williston 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 20% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Williston 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 18% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #27 of 120 in NH | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.