Compare towns
Barnstead vs Strafford vs Townsend
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 most people working from home (15.9%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,306Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% 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% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest 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±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Townsend 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. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Townsend 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Strafford School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.