What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).

Holderness has the highest household income ($108k).

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	Holderness
People
Population	1,551Lowest	1,917Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH	39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	14.7%±9.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Holderness 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%	31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Holderness 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%	55.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Holderness 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	$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH
	Holderness and Alstead 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	$363,100±$60kHighest 10% below NH
	Holderness and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,068±$385 39% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Highest 20% below NH	$3,923Lowest 41% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%	23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%	83.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%	9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Alstead and Holderness 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	Holderness School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.