Compare towns
Alton vs Barnstead vs Mapleton vs New Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
New Durham has the most homeowners (94%).
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 | Mapleton | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
4,994 |
1,884Lowest |
2,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.5±7.5 20% above U.S. |
| Alton and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and New Durham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$100,194±$13k 24% above U.S. |
| 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 29% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$339,400±$27k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,417±$116Highest about the U.S. average |
| New Durham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 34% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,774 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±42.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.