Compare towns
Barnstead vs Ripton vs Windham 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 kids (21% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Ripton | Windham | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
508Lowest |
594 |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Alton and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Windham 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Alton and Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Alton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
— | — | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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 | 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.