What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).

Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).

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	Barnstead	Acton
People
Population	4,994Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.	52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barnstead and Acton 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%	26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Acton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barnstead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S.	$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S.	$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average
	Barnstead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Highest 92% above U.S.	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton 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	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	Barnstead School District	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.