Compare towns
Alstead vs Meredith 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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Meredith | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
6,758Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
46.5±10.4Lowest 7% above NH |
| Alstead and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Walpole 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 |
$87,019±$19kHighest 12% below NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Meredith and Walpole 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,165±$150Highest 22% below NH |
| Walpole and Meredith 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.