What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Salisbury	Alstead
People
Population	9,281Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.3±3.5Lowest 32% above U.S.	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.
	Alstead and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alstead and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salisbury and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S.	$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S.	$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,691±$411 20% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S.	$5,322Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	76%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury 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	#240 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Triton	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

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.