Compare towns
Barnstead vs Gilmanton vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,026Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45±4.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Gilmanton and Ware 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% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Ware 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% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Ware 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 38% above U.S. |
$117,088±$9kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Gilmanton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$363,700±$42kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Gilmanton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$421 20% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$6,235Highest 100% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Gilmanton 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
99.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnstead and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Gilmanton School District | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.