What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.5%).

Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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	Andover	Alstead
People
Population	2,135Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46±11.6Lowest 6% above NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
	Alstead and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Andover and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.1%±7.7Highest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Andover and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,514±$27kHighest 11% below NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
	Andover and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$366,500±$44kHighest 9% below NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,211±$190 19% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,962Highest 11% below NH	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above NH	32 minLowest 19% above NH
Work from home	11.7%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Alstead and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Andover School District	Fall Mountain Regional 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.