Compare towns

Alstead vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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.

MeasureAlsteadWindhamGorham
People
Population
1,551Lowest
19,188Highest
2,682
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56±3.3Highest
44% above U.S.
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% 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%
19.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.5%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27.8%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
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%
44.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Windham 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.
$107,934±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
$61,275±$7kLowest
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,600±$37k
18% below U.S.
$388,900±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
$161,600±$49kLowest
51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,232±$332Highest
13% below U.S.
$838±$83Lowest
41% below U.S.
Windham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,322Highest
71% above U.S.
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,334
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±20.3
U.S.: 51.1%
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 — #95 of 133 in ME #57 of 120 in NH
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District RSU 14 Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town Windham High School Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Highest
9.0Lowest
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.