Compare towns
Barnstead vs Wakefield vs Wolfeboro
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wakefield | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
5,405 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Wolfeboro 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 |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Barnstead and Wakefield 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 |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Barnstead and Wakefield 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 |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Wolfeboro 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% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Wakefield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.