Compare towns

Bartlett vs Thornton 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%).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
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.

MeasureBartlettThorntonAlstead
People
Population
3,281Highest
2,799
1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+8.8%
NH: +4.6%
-3.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
57.4±4.7Highest
33% above NH
51.1±3.4Lowest
18% above 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%
13.9%±4.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
12.3%±3.1
NH: 18.2%
Thornton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
36.1%±9.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
19%±4.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
27.8%±4.2
NH: 20.1%
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%
NH: 40.6%
46.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
28.3%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.1%±0.4Lowest
NH: 6%
4.8%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
3.4%±2.6
NH: 6%
Thornton 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
$90,022±$17kHighest
9% below NH
$64,526±$11k
35% below NH
Thornton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,400±$78kHighest
8% below NH
$351,900±$20k
13% below NH
$271,600±$37kLowest
33% below NH
Bartlett and Thornton 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
$1,270±$428Lowest
15% below NH
—
Bartlett and Thornton 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
$5,032
25% below NH
$5,322Highest
20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.5%±37.9
NH: 48.2%
57.7%±24.7Lowest
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%
9.2%
NH: 7.2%
8.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
NH: 72.8%
88.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
76%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
15% above NH
23 minLowest
15% below NH
32 minHighest
19% above NH
Work from home
13.5%±7.1
NH: 16.8%
29.8%±9.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
12.1%±5.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Thornton and Bartlett 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 #18 of 120 in NH —
School district Bartlett School District Thornton 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 Our Story 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.