Compare towns
Barnstead vs Ogunquit vs Eliot vs Strafford
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Eliot has the most renters (20.2% rent).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Ogunquit | Eliot | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
1,379Lowest |
7,146Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Eliot 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Strafford 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Eliot 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.