Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hampstead vs Pelham
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 affordable homes ($362k median).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Hampstead | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
9,102 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% 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%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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%±1.8Lowest 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% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,425±$88Highest 4% below NH |
| Pelham and Barnstead 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
30 minLowest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hampstead School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.