Compare towns
Barnstead vs Ossipee vs Acton
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 highest household income ($112k).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Ossipee | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
4,521 |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Acton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Barnstead and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Barnstead and Acton 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 |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
— |
| Ossipee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ossipee 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.