Compare towns
Barnstead vs Everett vs Strafford vs Alton
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).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Alton has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
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 | Everett | Strafford | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
50,045Highest |
4,306Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Everett and Barnstead 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. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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 9% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Everett | Strafford School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.