Compare towns
Barnstead vs Fremont vs Northwood vs Candia
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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Fremont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Northwood has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Fremont | Northwood | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
4,831 |
4,688 |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
44.3±3.4 about the NH average |
42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and Fremont 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% |
20.4%±5.9 NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Fremont 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% |
21.6%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Fremont 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% |
32.3% NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$120,781±$18k 22% above NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
| Northwood and Fremont 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 |
$416,900±$31kHighest 4% above NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
| Fremont and Candia 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 |
$2,668±$795Highest 79% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,213±$554 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$6,954Highest 4% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
94.2%±5.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Fremont 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.5% NH: 72.8% |
89%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood 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 | #91 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Fremont School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.



