What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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	Webster	Alstead
People
Population	2,227Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Webster and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622 6% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Highest 10% below NH	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 14% above NH	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Webster and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Merrimack Valley 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

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.