Compare towns
Alton vs Barnstead vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
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 | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
4,994Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Hampton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
| Alton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Barnstead School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.