Compare towns
Barnstead vs Rochester vs Dunbarton
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 kids (21% under 18).
Rochester has the most renters (34% rent).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
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 | Rochester | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
33,144Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Dunbarton 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% |
19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Rochester 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 13% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Barnstead and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead and Dunbarton 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Rochester School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2 |
— |
| 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.