Compare towns

Barnstead vs Boston vs Gilmanton

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 kids (21% under 18).
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k median).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).

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.

MeasureBarnsteadBostonGilmanton
People
Population
4,994
666,442Highest
4,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.1
10% above U.S.
33.3±0.2Lowest
14% below U.S.
45±4.4Highest
16% above U.S.
Gilmanton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
Barnstead and Gilmanton 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%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnstead and Gilmanton 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
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
15%±0.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,660±$12k
38% above U.S.
$97,344±$2kLowest
21% above U.S.
$117,088±$9kHighest
45% above U.S.
Gilmanton 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.
$363,700±$42k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75
about the U.S. average
$2,147±$25Highest
52% above U.S.
$1,125±$421Lowest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,003
92% above U.S.
$4,456Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,235Highest
100% 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%
57.1%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gilmanton and Boston 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%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
99.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
30 minLowest
15% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
13%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±0.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.3%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #111 of 120 in NH #258 of 282 in MA #25 of 120 in NH
School district Barnstead School District Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston Gilmanton School District
High school in town None in town Boston Latin School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
18.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.