Compare towns
Washington vs Alstead vs Salisbury
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
1,551 |
1,609Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.7 27% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
51.5±4.5Lowest 19% 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%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Washington 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% |
24.9%±4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Washington and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12k 10% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
| Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32k 11% below NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$363,400±$47kHighest 10% below NH |
| Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160Lowest 26% below NH |
— | $1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
$5,859Highest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Washington 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% |
7.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
32 minLowest 19% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Washington 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 | Merrimack Valley 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.