What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).

Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

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	Halifax
People
Population	1,551Highest	847Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.	40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Alstead and Halifax 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%	25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alstead and Halifax 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%	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Alstead and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,526±$11kHighest 20% below U.S.	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S.
	Alstead and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S.	$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Alstead and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$875±$154 38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Highest 71% above U.S.	$4,991Lowest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Halifax School District
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.