Compare towns
Barnstead vs Eliot vs Hampton Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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 | Barnstead | Eliot | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
7,146Highest |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.