Compare towns
Ossipee vs Jackson 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
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Ossipee | Jackson | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521Highest |
897Lowest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Jackson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Jackson and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
— |
| Jackson and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Jackson 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.