What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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	Bristol
People
Population	1,551Lowest	3,273Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH	42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%	23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Alstead and Bristol 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%	35.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%	3.6%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Bristol 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±$11kLowest 35% below NH	$78,438±$10kHighest 21% below NH
	Bristol 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 33% below NH	$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH
	Alstead and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,310±$97 12% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Highest 20% below NH	$4,162Lowest 38% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%	46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above NH	28 minLowest 4% above NH
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%	11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Alstead and Bristol 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	—	#79 of 120 in NH
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Newfound Area School District
High school in town	None in town	Newfound Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.