Compare towns
Barnstead vs Eliot vs Mapleton
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 homeowners (93.6%).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
7,146Highest |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below 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% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Barnstead 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.