What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barnstead	Peterborough
People
Population	4,994Lowest	6,408Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average	52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%	16.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Peterborough and Barnstead 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%	62.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%	2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Peterborough 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 13% above NH	$98,401±$8kLowest about the NH average
	Barnstead and Peterborough 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	$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average
	Peterborough and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75 6% below NH	$1,395±$209 6% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH	$8,655Highest 30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%	29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and Peterborough 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%	5.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above NH	23 minLowest 16% below NH
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Peterborough 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	#59 of 120 in NH
School district	Barnstead School District	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	Conval Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.