What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).

Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barnstead	Essex Junction
People
Population	4,994Lowest	10,803Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S.	39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average
	Barnstead and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barnstead and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barnstead and Essex Junction 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 U.S.: 35.7%	52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Essex Junction and Barnstead 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 38% above U.S.	$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S.
	Barnstead and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S.	$407,500±$20kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,544±$135Highest 9% above U.S.
	Essex Junction and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S.	$6,797Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Essex Junction 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 U.S.: 12.5%	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Essex Junction 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	#14 of 70 in VT
School district	Barnstead School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	None in town	Essex High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.