Compare towns
Barnstead vs Bennington vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | Bennington | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
1,588Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington 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% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Strafford 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.