Compare towns
Barnstead vs Nottingham vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Nottingham has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
5,357 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Nottingham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$122,201±$20kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$457,500±$26kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$7,319Highest 135% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nottingham and Barnstead 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Nottingham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.