Compare towns
Alstead vs Bartlett vs Townsend
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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
3,281 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% 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% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$371,400±$78k 12% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Bartlett 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. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Bartlett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bartlett and Alstead 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bartlett School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.