Compare towns
Alstead vs Wolfeboro vs Madison vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% 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 | Wolfeboro | Madison | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
6,571Highest |
2,680 |
2,682 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Gorham 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% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Gorham 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±$11k 35% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
| Madison and Wolfeboro 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,103±$76 26% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 20% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$4,334 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Madison School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.