Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Townsend 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).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Hooksett | Townsend | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
15,057Highest |
9,100 |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Barnstead 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. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Hooksett 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. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
— |
| Hooksett and Townsend 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Alton 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.