Compare towns

Bartlett vs Stow 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%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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.

MeasureBartlettStowAlstead
People
Population
3,281
7,165Highest
1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.4±4.7Highest
48% above U.S.
44.1±4.4Lowest
13% above U.S.
56±3.3
44% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
36.1%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bartlett and Alstead 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%
75.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.1%±0.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Stow 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.
$185,809±$22kHighest
130% above U.S.
$64,526±$11k
20% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,400±$78k
12% above U.S.
$729,600±$39kHighest
119% above U.S.
$271,600±$37kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,676±$97Lowest
19% above U.S.
$1,782±$126Highest
26% above U.S.
—
Stow and Bartlett 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.
$5,322
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.5%±37.9
U.S.: 51.1%
59.7%±44.2Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
16% above U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
13.5%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
36.6%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #74 of 120 in NH #44 of 282 in MA —
School district Bartlett School District Nashoba 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

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.