Compare towns
Barnstead vs Needham vs Northwood
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 homeowners (93.6%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Northwood has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Needham | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
32,459Highest |
4,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.4±7.8Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Needham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northwood and Barnstead 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$129,375±$23k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$363,000±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,201±$372Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,806Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | — | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.