What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).

Unity has the highest household income ($88k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alstead	Unity
People
Population	1,551Highest	1,375Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	56±3.3Lowest 29% above NH	58±4.5Highest 34% above NH
	Unity and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Highest NH: 18.2%	12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Alstead and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Unity 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Unity 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	$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH
	Unity and Alstead 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	$276,100±$29kHighest 31% below NH
	Unity and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,625±$804 9% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH	$5,394Highest 19% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 19% above NH	35 minHighest 31% above NH
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%	9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Alstead and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Unity School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.