Compare towns
Barnstead vs Lyman 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).
Lyman has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Lyman | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,612Lowest |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyman and Alton 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% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Lyman 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. |
$87,284±$14kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Alton 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±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$360,400±$44kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
— |
| Barnstead and Lyman 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. |
$2,717Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$4,183 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnstead and Lyman 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyman 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.