What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

Pepperell 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alstead	Pepperell
People
Population	1,551Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell 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.	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S.	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,295±$238 8% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S.	$6,698Highest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Pepperell 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%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pepperell and Alstead 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	—	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.