Compare towns
Alstead vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 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 | Lancaster | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
3,216Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Marlow 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% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Lancaster 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% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
33.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Marlow 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 |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% 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 | — | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,154±$160Highest 23% below NH |
| Marlow and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,826Highest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Lancaster 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | None 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.