What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).

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	Lancaster	Alstead
People
Population	2,230Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.6±8.5Lowest 11% below NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	25.1%±8.2Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.6%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alstead and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±3Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,765±$20kHighest 33% below NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
	Lancaster and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$200,500±$24kLowest 50% below NH	$271,600±$37kHighest 33% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,036±$221 31% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,225Lowest 37% below NH	$5,322Highest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±18.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	76%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 41 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	10.6%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Alstead and Lancaster 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	#107 of 120 in NH	—
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.