What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

Waterville has the most affordable homes ($185k median).

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	Waterville
People
Population	4,994Lowest	17,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S.	35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barnstead and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barnstead and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S.	$53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S.	$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average	$978±$72Lowest 31% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Highest 92% above U.S.	$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.5%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waterville 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%	20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waterville 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	#105 of 133 in ME
School district	Barnstead School District	Waterville Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	Waterville Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.