What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Monroe	Alstead
People
Population	786Lowest	1,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51±10.4Lowest 18% above NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
	Alstead and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Monroe and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Monroe and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,150±$7kHighest 11% below NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$312,700±$58kHighest 22% below NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
	Monroe and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$218 26% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,661Lowest 60% below NH	$5,322Highest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±39Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Monroe School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.