Compare towns
Orange vs Alstead vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Alstead has the most renters (24% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Orange | Alstead | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,551Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Lowest 29% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,313±$282Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Orange and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 14% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.