Compare towns
Barnstead vs Northwood vs Windham
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 oldest population (median age 42.8).
Northwood has the most renters (11% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k 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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,688Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Northwood 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 |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Barnstead 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% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
89%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
31 minLowest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.