Compare towns
Gorham vs Canaan 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
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Canaan has the most people working from home (15.4%).
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 | Canaan | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
810Lowest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
53.2±4.6Lowest 37% 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% |
15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canaan and Gorham 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% |
28.5%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Canaan 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% |
13.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$55,606±$4kLowest 31% 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±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$201,900±$46k 39% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$3,389Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±63.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canaan 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 | Canaan School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Canaan High School CTE Program | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.