Compare towns

Marlow vs Waterville 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

Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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.

MeasureMarlowWatervilleAlstead
People
Population
855
680Lowest
1,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.8±11.7
36% above U.S.
49.1±8.2Lowest
26% 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%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.4%±8.2
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Marlow and Waterville 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%
14.4%±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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Waterville 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
37% above U.S.
$71,250±$27k
12% below U.S.
$64,526±$11kLowest
20% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$325,400±$49kHighest
about the U.S. average
$236,300±$15kLowest
29% below U.S.
$271,600±$37k
18% below U.S.
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
18% below U.S.
$1,110±$93Lowest
21% below U.S.
—
Marlow and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,826Highest
87% above U.S.
$3,957Lowest
27% above U.S.
$5,322
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18.2%±95.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±27.2
U.S.: 51.1%
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Alstead and Waterville 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%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
76%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
33% above U.S.
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
32 minLowest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±3
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Alstead and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Marlow School District Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town None 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.