Compare towns

Barnstead vs Strafford vs Windsor

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%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).

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.

MeasureBarnsteadStraffordWindsor
People
Population
4,994Highest
4,306
3,554Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.1Lowest
10% above U.S.
46.3±2.1Highest
19% above U.S.
44.8±6.5
15% above U.S.
Strafford and Windsor 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%
19.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Barnstead and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±4.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor 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%
40.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.7%
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%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
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±$12k
38% above U.S.
$122,105±$22kHighest
51% above U.S.
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below U.S.
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
9% above U.S.
$427,900±$29kHighest
29% above U.S.
$207,500±$31kLowest
38% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75
about the U.S. average
$1,635±$246Highest
16% above U.S.
$1,026±$89Lowest
27% 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
$6,003
92% above U.S.
$6,086Highest
95% above U.S.
$5,209Lowest
67% 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%
31.5%±17Lowest
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%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
57.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
13%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±5Lowest
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 #61 of 70 in VT
School district Barnstead School District Strafford School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.