Compare towns
Barnstead vs Castleton vs Brookfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Castleton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
4,453 |
1,486Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±5.9Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Castleton 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Brookfield 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Barnstead and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Castleton 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None 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.