Compare towns
Barnstead vs Douglas vs Upton 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 most affordable homes ($362k median).
Douglas has the most renters (16.2% rent).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Barnstead | Douglas | Upton | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
9,207Highest |
8,189 |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Alton and Upton 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% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Upton 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% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Douglas and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Douglas 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Douglas | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Blackstone Valley | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
11.2Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.