Compare towns
Marlow vs Sunapee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Sunapee has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
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 | Sunapee | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
3,416Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Lowest 22% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Sunapee and Alstead 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Alstead 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee 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±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Marlow and Sunapee 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 |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Sunapee and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
— |
| Sunapee and Marlow 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 |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
32 minLowest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Sunapee 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Sunapee School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.