Compare towns
Alstead vs Appleton vs Marlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Alstead | Appleton | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
1,360 |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$325,400±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Marlow and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alstead and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
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.