Compare towns
Bartlett vs Benson vs Braintree vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Braintree has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Alstead has the most renters (24% rent).
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 | Bartlett | Benson | Braintree | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,281Highest |
784Lowest |
1,026 |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7 48% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bartlett and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,400±$78kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
| Bartlett and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,676±$97Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Benson 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | — | — | — |
| School district | Bartlett School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.