Compare towns
Alstead vs Berlin vs Walpole
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Berlin | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
3,378 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Berlin 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin 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% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin 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 20% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #61 of 282 in MA | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Berlin-Boylston | Fall Mountain Regional 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 | 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.