Compare towns
Barnstead vs Webster vs Gilmanton
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%).
Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).
Gilmanton has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Webster | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
2,227Lowest |
4,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
45±4.4Highest 4% above NH |
| Gilmanton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Barnstead 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%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
$117,088±$9kHighest 18% above NH |
| Gilmanton and Barnstead 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 |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$363,700±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
| Gilmanton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,396±$622Highest 6% below NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Webster and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
$6,235Highest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilmanton and Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
31 minLowest 14% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Webster 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 | — | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.