Compare towns
Barnstead vs Nottingham vs Wells
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 people working from home (22.2%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
5,357 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest 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% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$122,201±$20kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% 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. |
$457,500±$26k 38% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Wells and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% 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% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nottingham and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Nottingham School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.