What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the shortest commute (31 min average).

Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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	Sturbridge
People
Population	4,994Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sturbridge 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%	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barnstead and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barnstead and Sturbridge 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%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barnstead and Sturbridge 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.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
	Sturbridge 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±$25kLowest 9% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Barnstead and Sturbridge 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.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barnstead and Sturbridge 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%	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge 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	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Barnstead School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	None in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.