What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).

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	Heath
People
Population	4,994Highest	765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.	53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S.
	Heath and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Heath 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 U.S.: 35.7%	46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barnstead and Heath 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 38% above U.S.	$98,750±$23kLowest 22% above U.S.
	Barnstead and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S.	$295,000±$45kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Barnstead and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Highest 92% above U.S.	$4,438Lowest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barnstead and Heath 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%	6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Heath 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.