Compare towns
Marlow vs Wakefield 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).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Wakefield | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
5,405Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH |
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% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest 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% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Marlow and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49kHighest 19% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Marlow and Wakefield 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 |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
— |
| Wakefield 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 |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Marlow 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% |
7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
32 minLowest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield and Alstead 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 | — | #118 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Wakefield 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.