What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).

North Hampton has the most people working from home (25.9%).

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	North Hampton
People
Population	4,994Highest	4,543Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average	50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%	19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	North Hampton 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%	54.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%	2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and North Hampton 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 13% above NH	$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH
	North Hampton and Barnstead 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	$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH	$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH	$8,529Highest 28% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%	23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and North Hampton 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%	2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above NH	25 minLowest 8% below NH
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#111 of 120 in NH	#12 of 120 in NH
School district	Barnstead School District	North Hampton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.