Compare towns
Alton vs Barnstead vs Townsend
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%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
4,994Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% 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% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Townsend 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 41% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 29% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Alton 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 |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Barnstead 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% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Barnstead School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.