Compare towns
Alstead vs Hampton Beach vs Nelson
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%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
2,605Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Nelson 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
| Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Nelson 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 |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.