Compare towns
Gilsum vs Alstead vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilsum has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Gilsum | Alstead | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 716Lowest |
1,551Highest |
916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
44.5±12.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Alstead and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±11.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dalton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Dalton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$7k 19% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$81,429±$36kHighest 18% below NH |
| Dalton and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,500±$32k 40% below NH |
$271,600±$37kHighest 33% below NH |
$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH |
| Alstead and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
— | $900±$825Lowest 40% below NH |
| Gilsum and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,579Highest 16% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
$3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±83.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.