Compare towns
Gorham vs Ossipee vs Alstead vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k 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 | Ossipee | Alstead | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682 |
4,521 |
1,551Lowest |
9,383Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
44.6±2.8Lowest 3% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee 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 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
24.8% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 38% below NH |
$90,521±$22kHighest 9% below NH |
$64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
$45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH |
| Ossipee 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 60% below NH |
$325,500±$23kHighest 19% below NH |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH |
| Ossipee and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 44% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
— | $815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 35% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$5,322Highest 20% below NH |
$3,437Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.7%±12 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
15.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
82%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
19 minLowest 30% below NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.5%±2.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Ossipee 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | — | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | — | 8.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.