Compare towns
Barnstead vs Sutton vs Warner vs Strafford
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 kids (21% under 18).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Warner has the most renters (25.4% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Barnstead | Sutton | Warner | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
2,239Lowest |
2,959 |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
43.7±4 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton 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 NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| 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 13% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$94,022±$18kLowest 5% below NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Sutton 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±$25k 10% below NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$353,100±$22kLowest 12% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,219±$123Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
$7,650 15% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.7%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
29 minLowest 10% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.6%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Warner and Strafford 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 |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.