What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Franklin
People
Population	1,551Lowest	8,799Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH	42.7±2Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.8%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Franklin and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%	21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Alstead and Franklin 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%	19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	3.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Franklin 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	$71,648±$4kHighest 28% below NH
	Franklin 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±$37kHighest 33% below NH	$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH
	Alstead and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,110±$68 26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Highest 20% below NH	$4,886Lowest 27% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%	38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above NH	32 minLowest 18% above NH
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%	8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Alstead and Franklin 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	—	#112 of 120 in NH
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Franklin School District
High school in town	None in town	Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	16.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.