Compare towns

Gilsum vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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.

MeasureGilsumWorcesterAlstead
People
Population
716Lowest
831
1,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.8±8.1Lowest
15% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
56±3.3Highest
44% above U.S.
Kids under 18
12%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1
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+
19.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.6
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
$80,417±$7kHighest
about the U.S. average
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
$64,526±$11kLowest
20% below U.S.
Gilsum and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$241,500±$32kLowest
27% below U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$271,600±$37kHighest
18% 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
$1,575±$894Highest
11% above U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below 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
$5,579Highest
79% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$5,322
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
76.5%±55.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
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%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
76%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
9% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
11.9%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
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.