Alstead

Cheshire CountyMonadnock RegionPopulation: 1,864

Overview

Alstead is a rural town in Cheshire County near the Vermont border, built along the Cold River in the Monadnock Region's western reaches. The town's farmland and forested hills give it a classic rural character.

The Cold River and Warren Farm covered bridge offer scenic and recreational appeal, while Alstead's small commercial center provides basic services. The town's proximity to Keene and Vermont's Connecticut River Valley provides broader access to jobs and shopping.

Housing in Alstead remains affordable, drawing families and retirees who want rural, river-valley living near the Vermont border.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • River access
  • Affordable
  • Rural character
  • Vermont proximity

Cons

  • Limited services
  • No downtown
  • Remote location

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Alstead.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$18.72
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$17.05
Equalization ratio: 91%
Municipal
$5.19
Local School
$10.17
State Education
$1.08
County
$2.28

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$18.72$17.05$5.19$10.17$1.08$2.28

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$4,680$390
$350,000$6,552$546
$500,000$9,360$780
$750,000$14,040$1,170
$1,000,000$18,720$1,560

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $18.72 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
79.8°F
Winter Avg High
35.8°F
Annual Snowfall
57 in
Annual Rainfall
46.4 in
Sunny Days/Year
267
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
118 mi
~161 min drive
Manchester
68 mi
~103 min drive
Portsmouth
110 mi
~153 min drive
Concord
54 mi
~93 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMapUpdated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score
10/10
Crime Rate
4.29/1,000
Crime Trend
stable
Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/)Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
13/100
Trail Miles
1.4
0
Boat Launches
4
00

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:0 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
0

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income
$52,957
Per Capita Income
$35,683
Median Family Income
$72,000

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$203,200
Median Rent
$817/mo
Homeownership Rate
70.12%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate
5.39%
In Labor Force
798

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.81%
Total with Degree
241

👥Demographics

Median Age
54 years
Avg Household Size
2.21 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year)Census Data Year: 2022Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Alstead with Other Towns

See how Alstead stacks up against other NH communities.