Compare towns
Alstead vs Thornton vs Marlow
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Thornton | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
2,799Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton 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 35% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
| Marlow and Thornton 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 |
$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
| Thornton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH |
$1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
| Thornton and Marlow 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 |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,826Highest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Thornton 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% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Thornton School District | Marlow 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 | 4 photos → |
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.