Compare towns
Barnstead vs Dedham vs Dedham
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%).
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 | Dedham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
25,237Highest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Dedham 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. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Barnstead School District | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.