Compare towns
Barnstead vs Bedford vs Newfields
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 affordable homes ($362k median).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Bedford | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
23,746Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Barnstead 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% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Bedford 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% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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 |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Newfields and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| Bedford and Newfields 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 |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Barnstead 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% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Newfields 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Bedford School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.