Compare towns
Barnstead vs Ogunquit vs Wells 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 youngest population (median age 42.8).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the most renters (9.9% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Wells | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Wells 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% 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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Wells 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±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Alton 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. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— |
| Barnstead and Wells 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,183 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnstead and Wells 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% 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% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wells High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.