Compare towns
Barnstead vs Strafford vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Strafford | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,306Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Strafford School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.