Compare towns
Alstead vs Fairlee vs Walpole
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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% 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.
| Measure | Alstead | Fairlee | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,066Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Fairlee 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Walpole 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. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Fairlee 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. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee and Alstead 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Fall Mountain Regional 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 |
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.