What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barnstead	Hancock
People
Population	4,994Highest	1,791Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average	53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%	15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	53.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%	4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH	$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH
	Barnstead and Hancock 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	$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH	$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH
	Barnstead and Hancock 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	$6,884Highest 3% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%	32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and Hancock 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%	4.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above NH	33 minHighest 24% above NH
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Hancock 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	—
School district	Barnstead School District	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.