Compare towns
Alstead vs Sutton vs Waterville 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 oldest population (median age 56).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Waterville | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
790 |
680Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Waterville 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% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Waterville 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% |
21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville 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. |
$71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alstead and Sutton 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.