Compare towns
Gorham vs Sheldon vs Alstead vs Whitefield
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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Sheldon | Alstead | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682Highest |
2,267 |
1,551Lowest |
2,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
51.4±4.6 32% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Whitefield 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. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$63,125±$12k 22% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$240,400±$22k 28% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Alstead 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. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,077±$160 24% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Whitefield 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,394 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Whitefield 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon 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 | — | — | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | — | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.