Compare towns
Barnstead vs Epping vs Madison
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).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Epping | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
7,430Highest |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
| Madison and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Madison and Epping 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% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Epping 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 |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
| Barnstead and Epping 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 |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Epping and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
| Epping and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Epping 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Epping School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.