Compare towns
Bartlett vs Needham vs Jackson 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
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Needham | Jackson | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,281 |
32,459Highest |
897Lowest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7 48% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bartlett and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46k 46% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,400±$78k 12% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109k 116% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,676±$97Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
— |
| Needham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Jackson 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Bartlett School District | — | Jackson School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school 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.