Compare towns
Charlestown vs Alstead vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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.
| Measure | Charlestown | Alstead | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,889 |
1,551Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Springfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 41% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $228,000±$62k 31% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| 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±$85Highest 22% below U.S. |
— | $963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Charlestown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,143 65% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Alstead 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.