What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).

Rumney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

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	Rumney
People
Population	1,551Highest	1,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+1.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH	44.5±2.3Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.7%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Rumney and Alstead 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%	24.1%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Alstead and Rumney 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%	41.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%	4.9%±2.3Highest NH: 6%
	Rumney 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	$79,444±$21kHighest 20% below NH
	Rumney 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±$37kLowest 33% below NH	$309,800±$37kHighest 23% below NH
	Rumney and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,064±$100 29% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Highest 20% below NH	$4,716Lowest 29% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%	48.1%±21.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%	77.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 19% above NH	33 minHighest 22% above NH
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.4%±7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Rumney 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	Rumney School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.