Compare towns

Marlow vs Ogunquit vs Gorham 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

Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k 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.

MeasureMarlowOgunquitGorhamAlstead
People
Population
855Lowest
1,379
2,682Highest
1,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.8±11.7Lowest
36% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
53.9±3.6
39% above U.S.
56±3.3
44% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
12.5%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Marlow and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.5%±5.7
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±6.8
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,455±$12k
37% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$61,275±$7kLowest
24% below U.S.
$64,526±$11k
20% below U.S.
Ogunquit and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$325,400±$49k
about the U.S. average
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$161,600±$49kLowest
51% below U.S.
$271,600±$37k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,154±$160Highest
18% below U.S.
—
$838±$83Lowest
41% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,826Highest
87% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$4,334Lowest
39% above U.S.
$5,322
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18.2%±95.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±20.3
U.S.: 51.1%
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Alstead and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
76%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8
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 —
School district Marlow School District — Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town None in town — Gorham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.0
—
On TownTapestry
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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.