Compare towns

Barnstead vs Hampstead vs Henniker

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 homeowners (93.6%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureBarnsteadHampsteadHenniker
People
Population
4,994Lowest
9,102Highest
6,197
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%
NH: +4.6%
+5.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.8±3.1
about the NH average
45.3±6.1Highest
5% above NH
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% below NH
Hampstead and Barnstead 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%
21.3%±3.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
15.3%±3.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Hampstead 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%
21.8%±4Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Hampstead 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
NH: 40.6%
44.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
41.4%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.9
NH: 6%
5.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,660±$12k
13% above NH
$112,348±$18kHighest
13% above NH
$95,206±$21kLowest
4% below NH
Hampstead 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
10% below NH
$521,100±$45kHighest
29% above NH
$356,700±$49kLowest
11% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75Highest
6% below NH
$1,299±$149
13% below NH
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
Barnstead and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,003Lowest
10% below NH
$8,634
30% above NH
$8,877Highest
33% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
44.1%±20.2
NH: 48.2%
43.5%±22.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Barnstead and Hampstead 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%
3.8%
NH: 7.2%
11.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82.1%
NH: 72.8%
64.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above NH
30 min
13% above NH
20 minLowest
24% below NH
Work from home
13%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21%±4.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
Hampstead and Henniker 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 #49 of 120 in NH #56 of 120 in NH
School district Barnstead School District Hampstead School District Henniker School District
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

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.