Compare towns
Barnstead vs Boscawen vs Milton
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%).
Boscawen has the most renters (24.7% rent).
Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).
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 | Boscawen | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
4,044Lowest |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
| Boscawen and Milton 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% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
21.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
| Barnstead and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
$318,400±$34k 21% below NH |
| Barnstead and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton 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 |
$6,549Highest about the NH average |
$5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milton 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% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Milton and Barnstead 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 | #51 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.