Compare towns
Barnstead vs Dracut 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).
Dracut has the most renters (20.2% rent).
Alton has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
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 | Dracut | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
32,574Highest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Barnstead 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% |
18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest 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+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Dracut 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. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Alton 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. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Dracut 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 |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Barnstead 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2Highest 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Dracut | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.