Compare towns
Gorham vs Hampton Beach vs Hampton 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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampton has the highest household income ($97k).
Alstead has the most homeowners (76%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Hampton | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682 |
2,605 |
10,101Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton and Gorham 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Hampton 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 |
$82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
$64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach 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 |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach 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 |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
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 |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | — | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.