Compare towns
Alstead vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Plainfield | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
1,314 |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Marlow 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. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Plainfield 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. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$325,400±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Marlow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Marlow and Plainfield 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. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | Marlow School District |
| High school 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.