Compare towns
Alton vs Ogunquit vs Barnstead vs New Durham
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 kids (21% under 18).
New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
1,379Lowest |
4,994 |
2,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest 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. |
46.5±7.5 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and New Durham 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% |
23.8%±4 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% |
34.7% 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% |
1%±0.7 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±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$100,194±$13kLowest 24% 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$339,400±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,417±$116Highest about the U.S. average |
| New Durham and Barnstead 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. |
$5,774 85% 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%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±42.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnstead and Alton 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% 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 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 120 in NH | — | #111 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | — | Barnstead School District | Governor Wentworth 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.