Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hanover vs Gilmanton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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.
| Measure | Barnstead | Hanover | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
8,479Highest |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
45±4.4Highest 4% above NH |
| Gilmanton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Hanover 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$363,700±$42k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,235 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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 NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | — | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.