Compare towns
Barnstead vs Danville vs Wakefield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Danville has the most expensive homes ($438k median).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Danville | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,531Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42±4Lowest 3% below NH |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
| Wakefield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
21.6%±7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Danville 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 NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
36.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$115,104±$21kHighest 16% above NH |
$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
| Danville 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 10% below NH |
$437,600±$26kHighest 9% above NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$2,144±$867Highest 44% above NH |
$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
| Danville and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$8,504Highest 28% above NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
70.2%±61.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Danville 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% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
35 min 30% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield and Danville 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 | #40 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None 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.