What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Alstead has the most renters (24% rent).

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	Jay	Alstead
People
Population	471Lowest	1,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±10.5Lowest 34% above U.S.	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.
	Alstead and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.2%±7.3Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jay and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Alstead and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S.	$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Jay and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S.	$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Alstead and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S.	$5,322Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jay and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.