What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).

Thetford 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	Thetford
People
Population	4,994Highest	2,813Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.	43.6±6.2Highest 12% above U.S.
	Thetford 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%	15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barnstead and Thetford 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%	20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thetford 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%	68%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thetford and Barnstead 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.	$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Barnstead and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S.	$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average
	Barnstead and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average	$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S.	$6,948Highest 123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thetford and Barnstead 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%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thetford 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	#40 of 70 in VT
School district	Barnstead School District	Thetford 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.