Compare towns
Barnstead vs Kittery vs Nottingham
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).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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 | Kittery | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
10,473Highest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kittery 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% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$122,201±$20kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and Barnstead 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. |
$468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$457,500±$26k 38% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and Kittery 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,319Highest 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Nottingham 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Kittery Public Schools | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.