Compare towns

Barnstead vs Barnet vs Alton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Barnet has the most people working from home (55%).
Alton has the most expensive homes ($430k 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.

MeasureBarnsteadBarnetAlton
People
Population
4,994
61Lowest
5,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+12.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.1Lowest
10% above U.S.
62.2±45.8Highest
60% above U.S.
53.7±3.2
38% above U.S.
Barnet and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±5
U.S.: 22%
31.1%±29.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barnet and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
36.1%±44.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.1%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnet and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±23.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,660±$12k
38% above U.S.
$57,917±$16kLowest
28% below U.S.
$113,715±$19kHighest
41% 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
$362,400±$25k
9% above U.S.
$204,200±$38kLowest
39% below U.S.
$430,400±$37kHighest
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75
about the U.S. average
— —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,003Highest
92% above U.S.
$2,950Lowest
5% below U.S.
$4,183
34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
—
31.7%±27.7Lowest
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
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
47.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
18% above U.S.
—
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
13%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
55%±29Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #111 of 120 in NH — #72 of 120 in NH
School district Barnstead School District — Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town None in town — Prospect Mountain High School
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.