Compare towns
Alstead vs Effingham vs Unity
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 renters (24% rent).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Effingham | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,912Highest |
1,375Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
| Unity and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Alstead 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% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Unity 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
21.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Effingham 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 |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
| Unity and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$322,700±$30kHighest 20% below NH |
$276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
| Effingham and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
| Unity and Effingham 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 |
$5,163Lowest 23% below NH |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
32 minLowest 18% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham 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 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Unity School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.