Compare towns
Barnstead vs Nottingham 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 affordable homes ($362k median).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Alton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Nottingham | Ogunquit | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,357 |
1,379Lowest |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3% 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. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4 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% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% 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% |
5.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$122,201±$20kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and Ogunquit 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. |
$457,500±$26k 38% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
— | — |
| Nottingham and Barnstead 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. |
$7,319Highest 135% 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% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer 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. |
34 minHighest 28% 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% |
22.2%±5.8 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | — | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Nottingham School District | — | 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 | 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.