Compare towns
Barnstead vs Stratham vs Merrimack
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Merrimack has the most renters (11.1% 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 | Stratham | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
7,754 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Barnstead and Stratham 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%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Merrimack 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±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Stratham and Merrimack 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 |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| 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.