What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rollinsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).

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	Rollinsford	Alstead
People
Population	2,626Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	17.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Rollinsford and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alstead and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,500±$26kHighest 10% below NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
	Rollinsford and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,100±$33kHighest about the NH average	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,809±$394 21% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,851Highest about the NH average	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Rollinsford 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	#94 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Rollinsford 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.