Compare towns
Gorham vs Rochester 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).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Rochester | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
1,389Lowest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Lowest 37% 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Alstead 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% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Rochester 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% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
| Rochester 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. |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Rochester 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. |
$929±$158Highest 34% below U.S. |
— |
| Rochester and Gorham 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. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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.