Compare towns
Alstead vs Bartlett vs Dover vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bartlett has the most expensive homes ($371k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Alstead | Bartlett | Dover | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
3,281 |
1,466Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Bartlett and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bartlett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$59,754±$9k 26% below U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$371,400±$78kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Bartlett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,676±$97Highest 19% above U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.5%±37.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #74 of 120 in NH | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bartlett School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.