Compare towns
Alstead vs Sutton 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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Sutton | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
9,452Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Marlow 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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 20% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Marlow 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Marlow 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Sutton | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.


