Compare towns
Alstead vs Colebrook vs Middlesex
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 oldest population (median age 56).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
1,988Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
53.7±4.9 38% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 20% below U.S. |
$51,159±$6kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$192,200±$59kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$4,350Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Colebrook 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% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Colebrook School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.4 |
— |
| 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.