Compare towns
Alstead vs Atkinson vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Atkinson | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
7,267Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
46.5±10.4Lowest 7% above NH |
| Atkinson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Atkinson 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 NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,165±$150Highest 22% below NH |
| Walpole and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,918Highest 4% above NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson 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 | — | #32 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.