Compare towns
Gorham vs Bennington vs Berlin 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
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Alstead has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
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 | Berlin | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682 |
15,249Highest |
9,383 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
44.6±2.8Lowest 15% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49k 51% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.5%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | #108 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Berlin School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Berlin Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
14.7Highest |
8.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.