Compare towns
Barnstead vs Durham vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Barnstead | Durham | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
15,080Highest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4 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+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Durham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Durham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
— |
| Durham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.