Compare towns
Alstead vs Nelson vs Stoddard
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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Nelson | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
648Lowest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
53±4 22% above NH |
| Alstead and Stoddard 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stoddard 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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 |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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 |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Stoddard 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Nelson School District | Stoddard 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.