Compare towns
Alstead vs Strafford vs Walpole
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).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Walpole has the youngest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Strafford | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,372Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Walpole 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Walpole 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Strafford and Walpole 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Alstead 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 | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Strafford School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.