What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the shortest commute (32 min average).

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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	Wells
People
Population	1,551Highest	1,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.	50.7±5.2Lowest 30% above U.S.
	Alstead and Wells 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%	15.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wells and Alstead 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%	24.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alstead and Wells 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%	29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Alstead and Wells 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.	$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Wells 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±$37kHighest 18% below U.S.	$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S.
	Alstead and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,313±$282 7% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Highest 71% above U.S.	$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	62.5%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.	48 minHighest 80% above U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Alstead and Wells 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	Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.