Compare towns
Barnstead vs Stratham vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Stratham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
7,754 |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Stratham 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 13% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Amherst and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.