What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).

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	New Ipswich
People
Population	4,994Lowest	5,310Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average	36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH
Kids under 18	21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2%	29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	New Ipswich 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%	12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	32.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%	2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and New Ipswich 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	$110,507±$9kLowest 12% above NH
	Barnstead and New Ipswich 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	$392,400±$31kHighest about the NH average
	New Ipswich and Barnstead 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	$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH
	Barnstead and New Ipswich 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	$5,647Lowest 15% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2%
	New Ipswich and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above NH	33 minHighest 22% above NH
Work from home	13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Barnstead and New Ipswich 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	#82 of 120 in NH
School district	Barnstead School District	Mascenic Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	Mascenic Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.