Compare towns
Gorham vs Williston vs Alstead vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k 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 | Williston | Alstead | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682 |
10,144Highest |
1,551Lowest |
9,383 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.6±2.8Lowest 15% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Berlin 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49k 51% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— | $815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334 39% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.5%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | — | 8.2Lowest |
| 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.