What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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	Lee	Alstead
People
Population	4,576Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alstead and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Lee and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,661Highest 45% above NH	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the NH average	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#3 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	10 photos →	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.