Compare towns
Alstead vs Hampton Beach vs Walpole
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%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
2,605 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
46.5±10.4Lowest 7% 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Walpole and Alstead 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 |
$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH |
| Walpole 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 |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Walpole 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 |
$6,078 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional 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.