Compare towns
Alstead vs Lempster 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 most people working from home (12.1%).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Lempster | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
953 |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
50.8±7.2Lowest 17% 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% |
12.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Lempster 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% |
25.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
28.5% NH: 40.6% |
33.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lempster 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 |
$86,607±$12k 13% below NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
| Marlow and Lempster 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 |
$241,900±$29kLowest 40% 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 | — | — | $1,154±$160 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$4,558Lowest 32% below NH |
$5,826Highest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 19% above NH |
37 minHighest 40% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Lempster 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 | Lempster 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.