Compare towns
Barnstead vs Salisbury vs Washington
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 youngest population (median age 42.8).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 55).
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 | Salisbury | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
1,609 |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
51.5±4.5 19% above NH |
55±4.7Highest 27% above NH |
| Washington and Salisbury 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% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Salisbury 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% |
24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
29%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Washington and Salisbury 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% |
37.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Washington 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 |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
$89,453±$12kLowest 10% below NH |
| Barnstead and Salisbury 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 |
$363,400±$47kHighest 10% below NH |
$358,600±$32kLowest 11% below NH |
| Salisbury 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 |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,106±$160Lowest 26% below NH |
| Salisbury and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$5,859 12% below NH |
$4,321Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Salisbury 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% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Washington 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 | — | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Washington 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 | 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.