Compare towns

Barnard vs Stratham vs Westford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Westford has the oldest population (median age 44.1).

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.

MeasureBarnardStrathamWestford
People
Population
1,211Lowest
7,754Highest
2,290
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±6
9% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
44.1±8.6Highest
13% above U.S.
Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnard and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
9.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Westford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,581±$19kLowest
21% above U.S.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
$112,750±$12k
40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$402,600±$71kLowest
21% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$424,500±$21k
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$2,375±$1k
68% above U.S.
Stratham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038Lowest
94% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$6,282
101% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±10.8
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.1%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham and Barnard 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 — #43 of 120 in NH —
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.