Compare towns
Alton vs Barnstead vs Ogunquit vs Atkinson
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Ogunquit | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,994 |
4,994 |
1,379Lowest |
7,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8 47% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Atkinson 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%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% 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% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Atkinson 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±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Barnstead School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.