Compare towns
Bath vs Sullivan vs Alstead vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Sullivan has the highest household income ($107k).
Alstead has the most renters (24% rent).
Lempster has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Bath | Sullivan | Alstead | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,097 |
687Lowest |
1,551Highest |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 12% above NH |
46.6±6.5Lowest 8% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
50.8±7.2 17% above NH |
| Alstead and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bath and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lempster and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$22k 32% below NH |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$86,607±$12k 13% below NH |
| Sullivan and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH |
$236,500±$29k 41% below NH |
$271,600±$37kHighest 33% below NH |
$241,900±$29k 40% below NH |
| Alstead and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
— | — |
| Bath and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,413Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,099 24% below NH |
$5,322Highest 20% below NH |
$4,558 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
37 minHighest 40% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Bath School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Lempster 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.