Compare towns
Barnstead vs Gilmanton vs Farmington vs Northwood
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 most kids (21% under 18).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
Farmington has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Gilmanton | Farmington | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,026Lowest |
6,795Highest |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
49.1±7.1Highest 13% above NH |
42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Farmington and Gilmanton 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% |
17.5%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Northwood 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% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Barnstead 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Gilmanton 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 |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
$66,943±$4kLowest 32% below NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
| Northwood and Gilmanton 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 |
$363,700±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
$289,200±$47kLowest 28% below NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
| Gilmanton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,125±$421 25% below NH |
$1,096±$110Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
| Barnstead and Northwood 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 |
$6,235Highest 6% below NH |
$4,723Lowest 29% below NH |
$5,806 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±16 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilmanton 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.5%±5.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood and Farmington 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 | #25 of 120 in NH | #106 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Gilmanton School District | Farmington School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Farmington Senior High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 5.5Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.