What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the most expensive homes ($272k median).

Barton has the most kids (24.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alstead	Barton
People
Population	1,551Highest	730Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.	40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alstead and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Alstead and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,526±$11kHighest 20% below U.S.	$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S.	$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$761±$150 46% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Highest 71% above U.S.	$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	58.8%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Barton 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%	25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barton 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	—	#38 of 70 in VT
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.