What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($157k median).

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	Colebrook	Alstead
People
Population	1,268Lowest	1,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.4±6.7Lowest 23% above NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
	Alstead and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.1%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Alstead and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.8%±5.2 NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.9Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Colebrook and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$46,833±$10kLowest 53% below NH	$64,526±$11kHighest 35% below NH
	Alstead and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$156,700±$31kLowest 61% below NH	$271,600±$37kHighest 33% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$750±$238 50% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,480Lowest 48% below NH	$5,322Highest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54%Lowest NH: 72.8%	76%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 26 yrs older than NH	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below NH	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	1.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	—	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school 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.