Compare towns
Marlow vs Franklin vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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 | Franklin | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
8,799Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
42.7±2Lowest about the NH average |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| 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%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$71,648±$4k 28% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49kHighest 19% below NH |
$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Highest 23% below NH |
$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH |
— |
| Marlow and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826Highest 13% below NH |
$4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 minLowest 18% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Franklin 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 | — | #112 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Franklin School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Franklin High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 16.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.