Compare towns
Marlow vs Dover 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
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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.
| Measure | Marlow | Dover | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
2,308Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
47.5±4Lowest 22% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 87% 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 | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.