Compare towns
Marlow vs Rye 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 most kids (20.5% under 18).
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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.
| Measure | Marlow | Rye | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
5,611Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Lowest 22% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Alstead and Rye 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% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$12k 12% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Rye and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 13% below NH |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Rye 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% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
29 minLowest 8% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Rye School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.