Compare towns
Alstead vs Nelson vs Marlow vs Bartlett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | Nelson | Marlow | Bartlett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
648Lowest |
855 |
3,281Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
57.4±4.7Highest 33% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7 NH: 20.1% |
36.1%±9.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bartlett and Marlow 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 NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 35% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$59,754±$9kLowest 40% below NH |
| Marlow and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$371,400±$78kHighest 8% below NH |
| Bartlett and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,676±$97Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,826Highest 13% below NH |
$2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
68.5%±37.9 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #74 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Nelson School District | Marlow School District | Bartlett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.