Compare towns
Barnstead vs Deering vs Epping vs Strafford
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 kids (21% under 18).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Deering | Epping | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
1,938Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Deering and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Deering and Epping 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% |
31% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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 |
$101,250±$16kLowest about the NH average |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| 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 10% below NH |
$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,306±$116Lowest 12% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Epping and Strafford 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 |
$6,223 7% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epping 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% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | — | Epping School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.