Compare towns
Barnstead vs Durham 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
15,080Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Durham and Strafford 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Durham 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 |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Durham 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
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| 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.