Compare towns

Gorham vs Pawlet 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 most affordable homes ($162k median).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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.

MeasureGorhamPawletAlstead
People
Population
2,682Highest
1,480Lowest
1,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.9±3.6
39% above U.S.
47.9±7.5Lowest
23% 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%
20.3%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Pawlet and Gorham 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%
27.3%±2.6Lowest
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%
37.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Pawlet 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.
$62,273±$14k
23% below U.S.
$64,526±$11kHighest
20% below U.S.
Alstead and Pawlet 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.
$266,200±$44k
20% below U.S.
$271,600±$37kHighest
18% below U.S.
Alstead and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$838±$83Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,153±$215Highest
18% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,334
39% above U.S.
$3,924Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,322Highest
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±20.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.6%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Alstead and Pawlet 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%
10%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Pawlet and Alstead 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 Mettawee School District #84 Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town Gorham High School 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

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.