Compare towns
Alstead vs Keene 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 oldest population (median age 56).
Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
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 | Keene | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
22,939Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
| Alstead and Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Walpole 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% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH |
| Walpole and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
| Walpole 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 |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| Keene 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 |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$6,078 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Walpole 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% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest 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 | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Keene School District | Fall Mountain Regional 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.