Compare towns
Barnstead vs Atkinson vs Northwood
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).
Atkinson has the most expensive homes ($555k median).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Atkinson | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
7,267Highest |
4,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Northwood 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% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Northwood 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 NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Atkinson 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 13% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
| Atkinson and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
| Barnstead and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$6,918Highest 4% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
89%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Northwood 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.