Compare towns
Barnstead vs Boston vs Everett vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Boston has the most people working from home (21.3%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Boston | Everett | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
666,442Highest |
50,045 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Everett 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2k 21% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| 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±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$731,700±$10kHighest 120% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,147±$25Highest 52% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Boston and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boston and Strafford 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 | #258 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Everett | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Boston Latin School | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 18.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.