Compare towns
Barnstead vs Deerfield vs Dover
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 the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% 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.
| Measure | Barnstead | Deerfield | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,932Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
42.8±4.2Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Deerfield 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% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Deerfield 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 NH: 40.6% |
47.3% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Deerfield 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±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,369 11% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Dover 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Deerfield School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.