Compare towns
Gorham vs Sutton vs Alstead vs Colebrook
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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Sutton | Alstead | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682 |
9,452Highest |
1,551Lowest |
1,988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
53.7±4.9 38% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Colebrook 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Sutton 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 24% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$51,159±$6kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$192,200±$59k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
— | $750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
$4,350 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Colebrook 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Sutton | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Sutton High School | None in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
12.6Highest |
— | 8.4Lowest |
| 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.