Compare towns
Alstead vs Grafton vs Grantham
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 oldest population (median age 56).
Grafton has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Grafton | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,354Lowest |
3,465Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
| Alstead and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Grantham 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
| Grantham and Grafton 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 |
$81,563±$22k 18% below NH |
$106,403±$54kHighest 7% above NH |
| Grantham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
$343,100±$39kHighest 15% below NH |
| Grantham and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,243±$163 17% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
$7,605Highest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Alstead and Grafton 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Grafton and Grantham 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 | — | — | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.