What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).

Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Andover	Barnstead
People
Population	36,652Highest	4,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S.	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Andover and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Andover and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barnstead and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Andover and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.	$111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S.	$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S.	$1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barnstead and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 282 in MA	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Barnstead School District
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.