Compare towns
Alton vs Bartlett vs Canaan
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 the highest household income ($114k).
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Bartlett | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
3,281Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
57.4±4.7Highest 33% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Bartlett 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 NH: 18.2% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan 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 NH: 20.1% |
36.1%±9.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bartlett 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% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8 NH: 6% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$59,754±$9kLowest 40% below NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
$371,400±$78k 8% below NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Alton and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,676±$97Highest 12% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 37% below NH |
$2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$5,985Highest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
68.5%±37.9 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.5% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
30 minLowest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Bartlett 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Bartlett School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.