Compare towns

Langdon vs Needham vs Alstead

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Langdon has the most homeowners (91.4%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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.

MeasureLangdonNeedhamAlstead
People
Population
805Lowest
32,459Highest
1,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.3±12.6Lowest
9% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
56±3.3Highest
44% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.5%±7.1
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Needham and Langdon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Alstead and Langdon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,917±$31k
21% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$64,526±$11kLowest
20% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$281,900±$18k
15% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$271,600±$37kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$285Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,492
76% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,322Lowest
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50%±81.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Alstead and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
76%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
15% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
14.6%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #19 of 282 in MA —
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District — Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town Fall Mountain Regional High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.7
— —
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.