What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boscawen has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).

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	Boscawen	Alstead
People
Population	4,044Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46±4.2Lowest 6% above NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	18.1%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Boscawen and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alstead and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,328±$27kHighest 22% below NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
	Boscawen and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$286,500±$23kHighest 29% below NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
	Boscawen and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,265±$307 15% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,549Highest about the NH average	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%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	28 minLowest 4% above NH	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Alstead and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#51 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Merrimack 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.