What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).

Somersworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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	Somersworth
People
Population	1,551Lowest	12,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+0.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH	38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%	14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%	31.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%	4.9%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Somersworth 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	$74,504±$13kHighest 25% below NH
	Somersworth 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	$318,400±$23kHighest 21% below NH
	Somersworth and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,477±$134 about the NH average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH	$6,805Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%	56.3%±14.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Somersworth 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%	11.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Highest NH: 72.8%	57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above NH	26 minLowest 3% below NH
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%	11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Alstead and Somersworth 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	—	#117 of 120 in NH
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Somersworth School District
High school in town	None in town	Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
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.