What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).

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	Auburn
People
Population	4,994Lowest	6,119Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+20%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average	44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average
	Auburn and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%	19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1%	13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Barnstead and Auburn 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%	55.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6%	7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6%
	Auburn and Barnstead 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	$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH	$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH	$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH
	Auburn and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH	$8,092Highest 21% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%	27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above NH	28 minLowest 4% above NH
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#111 of 120 in NH	#44 of 120 in NH
School district	Barnstead School District	Auburn School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.