Compare towns
Barnstead vs Rochester vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
33,144Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford 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%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Rochester 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%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Rochester 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% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| 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 13% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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 |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Rochester School District | Strafford 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.