Compare towns
Barnstead vs Durham vs Henniker
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 homeowners (93.6%).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
15,080Highest |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Henniker 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Henniker 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Henniker 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.