Compare towns
Alton vs Barnstead vs Gray vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Gray has the most renters (17.6% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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.
| Measure | Alton | Barnstead | Gray | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,994 |
4,994 |
8,429Highest |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Barnstead and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 34% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Barnstead School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
— |
| 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.