Compare towns

Barnstead vs Castle Hill vs Mapleton

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 expensive homes ($362k median).
Castle Hill has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% 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.

MeasureBarnsteadCastle HillMapleton
People
Population
4,994Highest
281Lowest
1,884
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.1
10% above U.S.
57.8±15.8Highest
49% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
Castle Hill 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%
14.2%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±4.8
U.S.: 17.2%
44.8%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
26.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Barnstead and Mapleton 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.
$54,250±$14kLowest
33% below U.S.
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
Barnstead and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,400±$25kHighest
9% above U.S.
$145,300±$18kLowest
56% below U.S.
$191,800±$23k
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75Highest
about the U.S. average
$950±$574
33% below U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
Barnstead and Castle Hill 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.
$1,449Lowest
54% below U.S.
$1,789
43% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
75%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castle Hill 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%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
13%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±9.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Barnstead and Mapleton 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 — RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.