What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

Barnstead has the most kids (21% 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	Alton	Barnstead
People
Population	5,994Highest	4,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	+7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Alton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH	$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH
	Alton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH	$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,395±$75 6% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH	$6,003Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above NH	31 minLowest 16% above NH
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Alton and Barnstead 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	#72 of 120 in NH	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.