Compare towns
Alstead vs Stow 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 renters (24% rent).
Stow has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Stow | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
535Lowest |
855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Stow and Alstead 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% |
15.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Marlow 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% |
33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest 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±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$326,400±$42kHighest about the U.S. average |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Stow and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Stow 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% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow 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.