What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the highest household income ($108k).

Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).

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	Holderness	Alstead
People
Population	1,917Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	14.7%±9.3Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Holderness and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Holderness and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
	Holderness and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,100±$60kHighest 10% below NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
	Holderness and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,068±$385 39% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,923Lowest 41% below NH	$5,322Highest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Alstead and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Holderness 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.