What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the shortest commute (23 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	Strafford
People
Population	4,994Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford 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%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Lowest 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±$12kHighest 38% above U.S.	$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Barnstead 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.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Barnstead and Strafford 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.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barnstead and Strafford 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%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Highest 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	—
School district	Barnstead School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.