Compare towns
Chatham vs Alstead vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Chatham | Alstead | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
1,551Highest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Stow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Chatham and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$326,400±$42k about the U.S. average |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 18% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.