Compare towns
Barnstead vs Exeter vs Nottingham 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 affordable homes ($362k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Nottingham | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,357 |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$122,201±$20kHighest 23% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Nottingham 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$457,500±$26kHighest 14% above NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Nottingham and Exeter 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 |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
— |
| Nottingham and Exeter 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,319 10% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Nottingham School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.