Compare towns
Barnstead vs Mason vs Strafford
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%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | Mason | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
1,451Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Mason 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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 |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
| Strafford and Mason 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 |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Mason and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Strafford 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Mason School District | Strafford 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.