Compare towns

Barnstead vs Union vs Franklin

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 highest household income ($112k).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Franklin has the most renters (23.2% rent).

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.

MeasureBarnsteadUnionFranklin
People
Population
4,994Highest
2,663
1,628Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.1
10% above U.S.
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% above U.S.
46±9.3Highest
18% above U.S.
Franklin and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±5
U.S.: 22%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Union and Barnstead 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%
21.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
25.6%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Franklin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Barnstead and Franklin 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.
$80,724±$9k
about the U.S. average
$65,455±$16kLowest
19% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,400±$25kHighest
9% above U.S.
$267,600±$42k
20% below U.S.
$245,800±$59kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,179±$452
17% below U.S.
$888±$306Lowest
37% below U.S.
Barnstead and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,003Highest
92% above U.S.
$3,276
5% above U.S.
$2,231Lowest
28% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.6%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±27.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Barnstead and Franklin 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%
10.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
76.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
29 minLowest
10% above U.S.
Work from home
13%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Union 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 — —
School district Barnstead School District RSU 40/MSAD 40 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.