Compare towns
Gorham vs Mapleton vs Appleton 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Appleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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 51% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Appleton 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Alstead 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alstead and Appleton 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.