Compare towns

Barnstead vs Brookfield vs Ossipee

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 the highest household income ($112k).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).

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.

MeasureBarnsteadBrookfieldOssipee
People
Population
4,994Highest
567Lowest
4,521
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+6%
NH: +4.6%
+0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.8±3.1Lowest
about the NH average
58.1±9.7Highest
34% above NH
50±4.6
15% above NH
Brookfield and Ossipee 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%
8.6%±4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.5%±4.5
NH: 18.2%
Barnstead and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±4.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
38.4%±3.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
26.3%±5.9
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.9%
NH: 40.6%
36.8%Highest
NH: 40.6%
24.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
5.5%±5
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
Barnstead and Brookfield 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
$81,406±$31kLowest
18% below NH
$90,521±$22k
9% below NH
Barnstead and Ossipee 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
$428,000±$61kHighest
6% above NH
$325,500±$23kLowest
19% below NH
Brookfield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75Lowest
6% below NH
—
$1,601±$245Highest
7% above NH
Ossipee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,003Highest
10% below NH
$5,926
11% below NH
$4,401Lowest
34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
—
72%±16.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
Ossipee 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%
3.9%
NH: 7.2%
8.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%
NH: 72.8%
98.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1979
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
16% above NH
27 minLowest
about the NH average
33 minHighest
25% above NH
Work from home
13%±4.5
NH: 16.8%
13.7%±6.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Brookfield 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 — #100 of 120 in NH
School district Barnstead School District — Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school 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.