What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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	Sharon	Alstead
People
Population	1,577Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S.	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.
	Alstead and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alstead and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Alstead and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S.	$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Sharon and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S.	$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.	$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sharon and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Sharon School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.