What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the most expensive homes ($272k median).

Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alstead	Braintree
People
Population	1,551Highest	1,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56±3.3Lowest 44% above U.S.	58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S.
	Braintree and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Braintree 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%	30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Alstead and Braintree 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.	$79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average
	Braintree and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S.	$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S.
	Alstead and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$840±$405 41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Highest 71% above U.S.	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Braintree 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%	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Braintree 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	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.