What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sandwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).

Alstead has the most kids (12.3% under 18).

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	Sandwich	Alstead
People
Population	1,757Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	63.6±2.8Highest 47% above NH	56±3.3Lowest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	7%±3Lowest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Alstead and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	46.6%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	63.3%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±3Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Sandwich and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,694±$22kHighest 42% above NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$437,700±$79kHighest 9% above NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,679±$1k 13% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,494Lowest 33% below NH	$5,322Highest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±41.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above NH	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	36.1%±16.9Highest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Inter-Lakes Cooperative 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.