Compare towns
Barnstead vs Kingston vs Plaistow
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%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Plaistow has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Kingston | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
6,275 |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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 NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Kingston 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 |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Barnstead and Plaistow 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 |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Kingston and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Kingston and Plaistow 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.