Compare towns
Alton vs Barnstead vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
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 | Alton | Barnstead | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
4,994Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Alton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Chester 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%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Alton 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 | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Barnstead School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.