Compare towns
Gorham vs Bridgewater 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).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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 | Bridgewater | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
1,169Lowest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Lowest 24% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Gorham and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Gorham 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% |
32.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
$64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 35% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$5,322Highest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Bridgewater 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 | Newfound Area 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.