What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

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

Measure	Alstead	Dorset
People
Population	1,551Lowest	2,092Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.	45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Alstead and Dorset 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%	24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alstead and Dorset 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%	72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Alstead and Dorset 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.	$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Dorset 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±$37kLowest 18% below U.S.	$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S.	$7,489Highest 140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dorset and Alstead 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%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	22 minLowest 18% below U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
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.