Compare towns
Gilsum vs Middlesex vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Middlesex | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 716Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Gilsum and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,579 79% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3 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 | 13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fall Mountain 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.