Compare towns
Alstead vs Mount Desert vs Marlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Mount Desert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Mount Desert | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,671Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
54.9±8.2 41% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Mount Desert 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mount Desert 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 20% below U.S. |
$92,813±$9k 15% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$522,100±$66kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,341±$89Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Mount Desert and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mount Desert and Alstead 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 | Mount Desert Public Schools | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
U.S. 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.