What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).

Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barnstead	Middleton
People
Population	4,994Lowest	9,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.	43.1±2Highest 11% above U.S.
	Middleton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barnstead and Middleton 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%	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barnstead and Middleton 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%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barnstead and Middleton 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.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S.	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average
	Middleton and Barnstead 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.	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barnstead and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4% U.S.: 12.5%	3.4% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barnstead and Middleton 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	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Barnstead School District	Middleton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.