Compare towns
Barnstead vs Bennington vs Nottingham
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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Nottingham has the most people working from home (22.2%).
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.
| Measure | Barnstead | Bennington | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
1,588Lowest |
5,357Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
| Barnstead and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Nottingham 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% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Nottingham 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% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$122,201±$20kHighest 23% above NH |
| Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$457,500±$26kHighest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham and Barnstead 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 |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,319Highest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham and Bennington 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 | — | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.