Compare towns
Alstead vs Unity vs Walpole vs Surry
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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Unity | Walpole | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,375 |
3,690Highest |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% 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%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Surry 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% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry 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 |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
| Surry and Unity 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±$29k 31% below NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
$331,400±$23kHighest 18% below NH |
| Surry and Walpole 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 |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Surry and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$5,394 19% below NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
$6,384Highest 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Surry and Alstead 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 | Unity School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.