What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).

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	Franconia
People
Population	4,994Highest	1,060Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average	55.6±7Highest 28% above NH
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%	15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Franconia 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%	36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	57.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%	5%±5.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Franconia 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	$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH
	Barnstead and Franconia 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	$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH	$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH
	Barnstead and Franconia 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	$7,451Highest 12% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Franconia 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%	11.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above NH	20 minLowest 25% below NH
Work from home	13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Barnstead and Franconia 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	—
School district	Barnstead School District	Lafayette Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.