Compare towns
Alstead vs Hampton Beach vs Marlow
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Hampton Beach | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
2,605Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
52.8±11.7Lowest 22% above NH |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Marlow 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 NH: 40.6% |
34%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Marlow 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 |
$82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
| Marlow and Hampton Beach 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 |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,115Highest 8% below NH |
$5,826 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Marlow 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.