Compare towns
Washington vs Alstead vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Alstead has the most renters (24% rent).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k 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.
| Measure | Washington | Alstead | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,551Highest |
953Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.7 27% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
50.8±7.2Lowest 17% above NH |
| Alstead and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Washington and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
25.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Washington and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lempster and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12kHighest 10% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$86,607±$12k 13% below NH |
| Washington and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160 26% below NH |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,322Highest 20% below NH |
$4,558 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 33% above NH |
32 minLowest 19% above NH |
37 minHighest 40% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
5%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Washington and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Lempster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.