Compare towns
Alstead vs Keene 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 oldest population (median age 56).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Marlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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.
| Measure | Alstead | Keene | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
22,939Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
| Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow 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% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$325,400±$49kHighest 19% below NH |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
| Keene 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 |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,826 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Keene School District | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.