Compare towns
Barnstead vs Orange vs Ware vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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.
| Measure | Barnstead | Orange | Ware | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.