What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).

Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

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	Proctor
People
Population	1,551Lowest	1,794Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.	42.4±6.4Lowest 9% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alstead and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Proctor 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.	$74,167±$12kHighest 8% below U.S.
	Proctor and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S.	$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,029±$202 27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Highest 71% above U.S.	$4,032Lowest 29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.3%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Proctor 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%	16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Alstead and Proctor 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	Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70
High school in town	None in town	Proctor Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.7
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.