Compare towns
Barnstead vs Pelham vs Madbury
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).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Pelham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
14,449Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Barnstead and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Pelham 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% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
| Madbury and Pelham 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 |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Pelham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.