Compare towns
Barnstead vs Castleton vs Brookfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Barnstead | Castleton | Brookfield | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
4,453 |
1,486Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% 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. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Strafford 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%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
40.2% 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% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Castleton 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% |
8% 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% |
93.5% 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. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer 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. |
36 min 36% 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% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.