Compare towns
Alstead vs Sunapee vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Sunapee | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
3,416 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
46.5±10.4Lowest 7% above NH |
| Sunapee and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Alstead 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee 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 35% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Sunapee 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 33% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Sunapee and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| Sunapee and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
| 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Sunapee 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Sunapee School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.