Compare towns
Barnstead vs Lunenburg vs Townsend
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 the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Townsend 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 | Lunenburg | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
11,902Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Lunenburg 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% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Townsend 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 38% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Barnstead 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lunenburg 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Lunenburg | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.