What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Litchfield has the most people working from home (21%).

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	Litchfield
People
Population	4,994Lowest	8,499Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average	43.1±1.7Highest about the NH average
	Litchfield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Litchfield and Barnstead 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%	14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Barnstead and Litchfield 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%	46.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%	4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH	$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH	$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH	$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH	$8,273Highest 24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Litchfield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above NH	29 minLowest 9% above NH
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	21%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Litchfield 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	#53 of 120 in NH
School district	Barnstead School District	Litchfield School District
High school in town	None in town	Campbell High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.