Compare towns
Barnstead vs Dunbarton vs Weare
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).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Dunbarton | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
3,097Lowest |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Weare 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% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare 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% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Dunbarton 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Weare 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 13% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Weare 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 |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
| Weare and Barnstead 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 |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$6,272 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Dunbarton School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.