Compare towns
Gilsum vs Sunapee vs Alstead
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%).
Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Alstead has the most kids (12.3% 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 | Sunapee | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 716Lowest |
3,416Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Sunapee and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Alstead and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Alstead 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 NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee 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 |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Sunapee 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±$32kLowest 40% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,575±$894Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
— |
| Sunapee and Gilsum 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 |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Gilsum 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Sunapee School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.