Compare towns
Bartlett vs Meredith vs Plainfield 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%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Plainfield | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,281 |
6,758Highest |
2,522 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7Highest 33% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Bartlett and Alstead 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% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 36.1%±9.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bartlett and Meredith 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% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,400±$78k 8% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Meredith and Plainfield 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 |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
— |
| Bartlett and Plainfield 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 |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Plainfield 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bartlett School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.