Compare towns
Barnstead vs Reading 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 youngest population (median age 42.8).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
699Lowest |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Alton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Alton 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$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±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Alton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Barnstead and Reading 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school 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 | 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.