Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Barre 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
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Barre has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Alstead has the most homeowners (76%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Barre | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
8,412Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Barre and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.