Compare towns
Barnstead vs Dummerston vs Putney 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
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Putney | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
2,090Lowest |
2,622 |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Alton and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— |
| Barnstead and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 6 photos → | 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.