What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bradford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

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	Bradford	Alstead
People
Population	1,565Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.3±5.2Lowest 16% above NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
	Alstead and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±4.2Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	26.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alstead and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,015±$21kHighest 9% above NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$341,700±$38kHighest 15% below NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
	Bradford and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,507±$206 about the NH average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,307Highest 5% below NH	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.1%±22.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above NH	32 minLowest 19% above NH
Work from home	18.6%±8Highest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bradford and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.