What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k 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	4,994Highest	1,595Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average	43.5±5.7Highest about the NH average
	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 NH: 18.2%	18.9%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
	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 NH: 20.1%	18.9%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	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%Highest NH: 40.6%	23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%	3.2%±1.9Lowest NH: 6%
	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±$12kHighest 13% above NH	$101,696±$8kLowest about the NH average
	Barnstead and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH	$312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH
	Barnstead and Middleton 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	$1,500±$293Highest about the NH average
	Middleton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Highest 10% below NH	$5,504Lowest 17% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Middleton 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%	5.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above NH	39 minHighest 45% above NH
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.1%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%
	Middleton 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	—
School district	Barnstead School District	Middleton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.