Compare towns
Alton vs Barnstead vs Ware
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 kids (21% under 18).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% 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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
4,994Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Ware 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%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest 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% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% 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% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Barnstead School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 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.