Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hillsborough vs Ogunquit 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 kids (21% under 18).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Hillsborough | Ogunquit | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,980 |
1,379Lowest |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
40.9±4.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Ogunquit 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. |
$84,495±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$272,300±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,198±$390Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,815 86% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hillsborough and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | — | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | — | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | — | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.