Compare towns
Alstead vs Bennington vs Marlow
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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
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 | Bennington | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,588Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Marlow 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 |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$325,400±$49kHighest 19% below NH |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
$1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
| Bennington and Marlow 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 |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$5,826 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 19% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and Alstead 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Marlow 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.