Compare towns
Barnstead vs Madison vs New Durham
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%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Madison | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
2,680Lowest |
2,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
46.5±7.5 7% above NH |
| Madison and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New Durham and Madison 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% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Madison 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 |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
$100,194±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Barnstead and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
$339,400±$27kLowest 16% below NH |
| Madison and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$1,417±$116 5% below NH |
| Madison and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$5,774 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
25%±42.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
35 minHighest 30% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead and New Durham 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 | Madison School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.