Compare towns
Alton vs Ogunquit vs Barnstead vs Gilford
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Barnstead | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,994 |
1,379Lowest |
4,994 |
7,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48.2±3.9 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Gilford 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$116,635±$11kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Gilford 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$456,500±$56k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$747Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,868 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 120 in NH | — | #111 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | — | Barnstead School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | — | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.5Highest |
| 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.