Compare towns
Gorham vs Bennington 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
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
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 | Gorham | Bennington | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
1,588 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Alstead and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
$64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$271,600±$37kHighest 33% below NH |
| Alstead and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and Alstead 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.