Compare towns
Barnstead vs Effingham vs Ossipee
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 highest household income ($112k).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Effingham | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
1,912Lowest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
| Ossipee and Effingham 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% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Effingham 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% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
24.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
| Barnstead and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
| Barnstead and Ossipee 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 |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
| Ossipee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee 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% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham and Barnstead 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.