Compare towns
Alstead vs Worcester 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 oldest population (median age 56).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Worcester | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
831 |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$80,417±$7kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Gilsum and Worcester 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. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Gilsum and Worcester 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,579Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.