Compare towns
Barnstead vs Plainfield vs Windsor 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%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Plainfield | Windsor | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,554 |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Windsor 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #61 of 70 in VT | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Plainfield School District | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.