Compare towns
Barnstead vs Northwood vs Pelham
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 homeowners (93.6%).
Northwood has the oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Northwood | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,688Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Barnstead and Northwood 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% |
18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Northwood 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 |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,425±$88Highest 4% below NH |
| Pelham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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 NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
30 minLowest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Northwood 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.