What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barnstead	Bridgewater
People
Population	4,994Highest	980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.	57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barnstead and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barnstead and Bridgewater 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 38% above U.S.	$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S.	$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average	$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S.
	Barnstead and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Highest 92% above U.S.	$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bridgewater 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 U.S.: 12.5%	14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barnstead and Bridgewater 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	—
School district	Barnstead School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.