Compare towns

Barnstead vs Nottingham vs Alton vs Danville

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).
Nottingham has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Danville has the most homeowners (97.4%).

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.

MeasureBarnsteadNottinghamAltonDanville
People
Population
4,994
5,357
5,994Highest
4,531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%
NH: +4.6%
+9.3%
NH: +4.6%
+12.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+0.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.8±3.1
about the NH average
38.8±6.7Lowest
10% below NH
53.7±3.2Highest
24% above NH
42±4
3% below NH
Kids under 18
21%±5
NH: 18.2%
23.9%±5.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
13.4%±4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21.6%±7
NH: 18.2%
Nottingham and Danville 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%
18.4%±4.2
NH: 20.1%
25.1%±4.5Highest
NH: 20.1%
18.1%±4.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
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%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
40.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
35.8%
NH: 40.6%
36.6%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
0.8%±0.8Lowest
NH: 6%
1.4%±1.3
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,660±$12kLowest
13% above NH
$122,201±$20kHighest
23% above NH
$113,715±$19k
15% above NH
$115,104±$21k
16% above NH
Nottingham and Danville 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
$457,500±$26kHighest
14% above NH
$430,400±$37k
7% above NH
$437,600±$26k
9% above NH
Nottingham and Danville 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
$2,068±$1k
39% above NH
—
$2,144±$867Highest
44% above NH
Danville and Nottingham 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
$7,319
10% above NH
$4,183Lowest
37% below NH
$8,504Highest
28% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
92.1%±44.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
31.7%±27.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
70.2%±61.6
NH: 48.2%
Nottingham and Danville 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%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.1%
NH: 7.2%
12.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
94.3%
NH: 72.8%
93.7%
NH: 72.8%
97.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1992
13 yrs newer than NH
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
16% above NH
34 min
27% above NH
33 min
24% above NH
35 minHighest
30% above NH
Work from home
13%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
22.2%±5.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.1%±5.2
NH: 16.8%
13.1%±5.4
NH: 16.8%
Nottingham 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 #15 of 120 in NH #72 of 120 in NH #40 of 120 in NH
School district Barnstead School District Nottingham School District Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town None in town None in town Prospect Mountain High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 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.