What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).

Dedham has the most kids (23.8% 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.

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

Measure	Alstead	Dedham
People
Population	1,551Lowest	1,656Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.	46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Alstead and Dedham 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.	$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S.	$356,400±$33kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Highest 71% above U.S.	$3,942Lowest 26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Dedham 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%	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Alstead and Dedham 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	Dedham Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.