Compare towns
Barnstead vs Raymond vs Alton
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 kids (21% under 18).
Raymond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+30.9%).
Alton has the most expensive homes ($430k median).
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 | Raymond | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
3,645Lowest |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+30.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
47.7±13.3 10% above NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Alton and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.6%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Raymond and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
24.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
6.9%±4.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Raymond and Barnstead 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 13% above NH |
$73,066±$8kLowest 26% below NH |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
| Alton 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±$25k 10% below NH |
$314,900±$34kLowest 22% below NH |
$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$994±$450Lowest 33% below NH |
— |
| Barnstead and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$5,113 23% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±13.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
75%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
31 minLowest 14% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Alton and Barnstead 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 | #96 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | — | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.