Compare towns
Barnstead vs Brookline vs Townsend 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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Brookline | Townsend | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,736 |
9,100Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above 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% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Brookline School District | North Middlesex | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.