Compare towns
Alstead vs Colebrook vs Marlow 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 people working from home (12.1%).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Marlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Walpole has the youngest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Colebrook | Marlow | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,988 |
855Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
53.7±4.9 24% above NH |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
46.5±10.4Lowest 7% above NH |
| Alstead and Colebrook 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% |
13.2%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
27.8%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Walpole 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±$11k 35% below NH |
$51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Marlow and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH |
$325,400±$49kHighest 19% below NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Marlow and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $750±$238Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,154±$160 23% below NH |
$1,165±$150Highest 22% below NH |
| Walpole and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$4,350Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,826 13% below NH |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.3%±19.3 NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Walpole 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% |
13.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Walpole 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 | — | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Colebrook School District | Marlow School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.