Compare towns
Barnstead vs Douglas vs Pepperell
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 the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | Douglas | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
9,207 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Pepperell 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% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Pepperell 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. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnstead and Pepperell 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Douglas | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.