Compare towns
Barnstead vs Newfields vs Exeter vs Strafford
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 the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Newfields | Exeter | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
2,023Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Exeter 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%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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 NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Exeter 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.