Compare towns
Alstead vs Topsham vs Bartlett
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).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Topsham | Bartlett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
9,706Highest |
3,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
57.4±4.7Highest 48% 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.1%±9.6Highest 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% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest 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. |
$91,028±$10kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$371,400±$78kHighest 12% 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 | — | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,676±$97Highest 19% above 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. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.5%±37.9 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7.1 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | #74 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Bartlett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.