What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).

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	Thornton
People
Population	4,994Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average	51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%	13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Thornton 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%	19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Barnstead and Thornton 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%	46.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Thornton 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 13% above NH	$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH
	Barnstead and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH	$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH
	Barnstead and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH	$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH
	Barnstead and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Highest 10% below NH	$5,032Lowest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Thornton 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 NH: 7.2%	9.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#111 of 120 in NH	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	Barnstead School District	Thornton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.