Compare towns
Barnstead vs Townsend vs Northwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Northwood has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Townsend | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
9,100Highest |
4,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.4±7.8 9% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Northwood 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northwood 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% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$129,375±$23kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Northwood and Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$363,000±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,201±$372Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,806Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
37 min 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northwood 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | North Middlesex | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.