Compare towns
Alstead vs Barton vs Marlow
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 oldest population (median age 56).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Marlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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 | Barton | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
730Lowest |
855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Highest 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% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Marlow 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. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$325,400±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 | — | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
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.