Compare towns
Barnstead vs Gilmanton vs Williston
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 the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,026Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45±4.4 16% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gilmanton 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest 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% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above 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±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$363,700±$42k 9% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$421Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$6,235Highest 100% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
99.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #25 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Gilmanton School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.