Compare towns
Barnstead vs Franklin vs Lee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Franklin has the most renters (35.8% rent).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Franklin | Lee | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
8,799Highest |
4,576 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.7±2Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Lee 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% |
17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Barnstead 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% |
21.3%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Lee 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±$25k 10% below NH |
$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Lee and Strafford 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 |
$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH |
— | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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 |
$4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Franklin School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Franklin High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 16.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 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.