What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sharon has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	Sharon
People
Population	4,994Highest	1,577Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.	45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S.
	Sharon and Barnstead 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%	21%±5 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sharon 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%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S.	$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Barnstead and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S.	$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Barnstead and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average	$1,386±$155Lowest about the U.S. average
	Barnstead and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Highest 92% above U.S.	$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barnstead and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barnstead and Sharon 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	Sharon School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.