What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

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	Charlestown	Alstead
People
Population	4,889Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.6±8.5Lowest 4% below NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	22.4%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	22.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alstead and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Charlestown and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,338±$23kLowest 52% below NH	$64,526±$11kHighest 35% below NH
	Alstead and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$228,000±$62kLowest 43% below NH	$271,600±$37kHighest 33% below NH
	Alstead and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,099±$85 26% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,143Lowest 23% below NH	$5,322Highest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±24.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below NH	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	7.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Alstead and Charlestown 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	#113 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Fall Mountain Regional 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.