Compare towns
Barnstead vs Jericho vs Castleton vs Strafford
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%).
Jericho has the most people working from home (21.8%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Jericho | Castleton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,114Highest |
4,453 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Strafford 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% |
19.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Jericho 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% |
20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton 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% |
65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$116,923±$16k 45% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Jericho 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. |
$493,100±$38kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Strafford 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 |
$1,731±$111Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Strafford 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. |
$7,318Highest 135% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jericho and Strafford 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| 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.