What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ascutney has the shortest commute (16 min average).

Alexandria has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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	Ascutney	Alexandria
People
Population	381Lowest	1,983Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	64.4±7.3Highest 66% above U.S.	52.6±5Lowest 35% above U.S.
	Ascutney and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.2%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Alexandria and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	44.9%±15Highest U.S.: 17.2%	25.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Alexandria and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,269±$46kLowest 34% below U.S.	$89,194±$8kHighest 10% above U.S.
	Alexandria and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,800±$91kLowest 34% below U.S.	$323,300±$27kHighest about the U.S. average
	Alexandria and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,135±$273 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,429Lowest 10% above U.S.	$5,021Highest 61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	—	55.6%±40.5 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	100%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	93.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 40% below U.S.	37 minHighest 38% above U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.4%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ascutney and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.