What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).

Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).

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	Bennington	Alstead
People
Population	1,588Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH	$271,600±$37kHighest 33% below NH
	Alstead and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$150 13% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,944Highest 11% below NH	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	76%Highest 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	37 minHighest 38% above NH	32 minLowest 19% above NH
Work from home	14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bennington and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley 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.