Compare towns
Barnstead vs Ashby vs Danville
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Danville has the most expensive homes ($438k 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 | Ashby | Danville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
3,211Lowest |
4,531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
42±4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Danville and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$115,104±$21k 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Danville 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. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$437,600±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Danville and Ashby 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 |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,144±$867Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Danville and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$8,504Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
70.2%±61.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danville and Barnstead 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Danville 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #40 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | North Middlesex | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.