Compare towns
Sandgate vs Alstead vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Alstead has the most renters (24% rent).
Ira has the highest household income ($72k).
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 | Sandgate | Alstead | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
1,551Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4 43% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sandgate and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $942±$52 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.