Compare towns
Barnstead vs Nelson vs Sullivan
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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Nelson | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
648Lowest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Barnstead 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Sullivan 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 |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Barnstead and Sullivan 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Barnstead and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
| Barnstead and Sullivan 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 |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.