What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).

Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Plymouth
People
Population	4,994Lowest	6,601Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average	24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%	13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Plymouth 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%	12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	54%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6%	33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH	$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH
	Barnstead and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH	$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH	$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH
	Barnstead and Plymouth 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	$6,288Highest 6% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%	33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and Plymouth 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%	18.6%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	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above NH	18 minLowest 31% below NH
Work from home	13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Barnstead and Plymouth 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	#47 of 120 in NH
School district	Barnstead School District	Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	Plymouth Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.