Compare towns
Barnstead vs Needham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%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%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #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.