Compare towns
Gorham vs Cornish 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
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
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 | Cornish | Berlin | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682 |
1,803 |
9,383Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%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. |
39±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.8 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% |
18.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cornish 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% |
17.4%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7 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% |
21% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%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% |
2.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$69,038±$4kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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±$49k 51% below U.S. |
$274,200±$84kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Alstead 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. |
$1,196±$148Highest 15% below U.S. |
$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$2,309Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$3,437 10% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Cornish 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% |
6.3% 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% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.5%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alstead and Cornish 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 | — | #108 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | — | Berlin School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | Berlin Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | 8.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.