What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sullivan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).

Alstead has the most expensive 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	Sullivan	Alstead
People
Population	1,246Lowest	1,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±15Lowest 21% above U.S.	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.
	Alstead and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sullivan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alstead and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sullivan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,643±$14kLowest 26% below U.S.	$64,526±$11kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Alstead and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,000±$33kLowest 33% below U.S.	$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Alstead and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$883±$114 38% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,228Lowest 29% below U.S.	$5,322Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±23.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%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	12.6%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sullivan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 24	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	Sumner Memorial High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5	—
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.