Compare towns
Gorham vs Saco vs Windham 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).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Saco | Windham | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682 |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% 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% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Saco 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% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest 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%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Saco 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. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
| Windham and Saco 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. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
| Saco and Windham 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. |
$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
— |
| Saco and Windham 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.