Compare towns
Bartlett vs Bow vs Wolfeboro vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Bow | Wolfeboro | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,281 |
8,335Highest |
6,571 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7Highest 33% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Bartlett and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 36.1%±9.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bartlett and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Bow 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 40% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,400±$78k 8% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,676±$97Highest 12% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
— |
| Bartlett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bartlett School District | Bow School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.