Compare towns
Alstead vs Bartlett vs Topsham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% 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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
3,281 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bartlett and Alstead 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% |
50%Highest 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% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$371,400±$78kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Bartlett and Topsham 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. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Bartlett and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$4,259 37% 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% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bartlett School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.