Compare towns
Alton vs Barnstead vs Mount Tabor
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 the most expensive homes ($430k median).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Alton | Barnstead | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
4,994 |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor and Alton 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% |
34.9% 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% |
1.6%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Mount Tabor 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±$12kLowest 38% 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±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$420,500±$76k 26% above U.S. |
| Alton and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,233 68% 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest 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 | — |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.