Compare towns
Barnstead vs Nottingham vs Strafford 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 most affordable homes ($362k median).
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Nottingham | Strafford | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,357 |
4,306Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Windham and Nottingham 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 |
$7,319 10% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Strafford 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1992 13 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
31 minLowest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham and Windham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Nottingham School District | Strafford School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.