What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dresden has the most kids (17% under 18).

Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dresden	Bartlett
People
Population	1,645Lowest	3,281Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±7.9Lowest 42% above U.S.	57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S.
	Bartlett and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.8%±8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bartlett and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,844±$22kHighest 7% below U.S.	$59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S.
	Dresden and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,100±$29kLowest 28% below U.S.	$371,400±$78kHighest 12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$502Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,676±$97Highest 19% above U.S.
	Bartlett and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,500Lowest 20% below U.S.	$2,512Highest 19% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bartlett and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	6.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bartlett and Dresden 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
School district	RSU 02	Bartlett School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.