Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Danville
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Danville has the most expensive homes ($438k median).
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 | Hardwick | Ware | Danville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
2,684Lowest |
10,048Highest |
4,531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
42±4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Danville 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Barnstead 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. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$115,104±$21kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Danville 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 9% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$437,600±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,144±$867Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Danville and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$8,504Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
70.2%±61.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danville and Ware 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danville 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #40 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Quabbin | Ware | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.