Compare towns
Gorham vs Mapleton vs Bowdoin 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).
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Bowdoin | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682 |
1,884 |
3,188Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%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. |
44.3±10 14% 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% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
30.4% 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% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 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±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin 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. |
$292,800±$71kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Highest 41% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Gorham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,375 8% 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%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%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% |
84.7%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. |
1992Highest 12 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. |
32 minHighest 20% 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% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alstead and Bowdoin 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 | — | #28 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | 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.